Expect the Unexpected

San BernarDINO

Dear friends and family,

First of all, Happy Father's Day to all those superhero daddy's out there, especially my own! Love you, Pops!

Wow, it's been a crazy week!

This week, the temperature has been ranging from 100-104 degrees. I'm so lucky to not be in the desert anymore, it's 120! How do you live? My blood would boil and my skin would melt right off my bones! Sorry for the graphic image, but it's true!

Monday, we got a call from the AP's, telling us we needed to move out of our apartment because another one was shutting down! Ugh...I don't like packing. But I hear they're pretty nice apartments. Maybe we'll actually have our very own washer and dryer. That would be nice because it gets expensive. We'll be moving in with the hermana's this coming week.

Wednesday, we got to go to the temple and do an endowment session! I think President is allowing us to go twice a year. I feel lucky, it used to only be once a year.

Thursday evening, we got a call from the AP's again, telling us that Sister T--- would be going home the next morning for some health problems, so her companion, Sister Nellie R---, would be staying with us. So, yes, I am in a trio! It's fun having her in our companionship, but it's hard because now we're all in charge of three areas! She covers two areas in the mountains, and we cover one huge area which includes four cities down the hill and three up. So all together we basically cover about half of southern California...or it seems that way, anyway. Talk about STRESS. 

Redland Temple - Holiness to the Lord

Friday, we went up the mountain to get some more of Sister R---'s things. It is so beautiful up there, and the temperature is perfect in the summer, but Sister P--- and I got so sick from the elevation. Guess we better toughen up, we'll be going up a lot more for the next four weeks. Sister R--- will be going home after this transfer. It's been a real weird last transfer for her.

Fun Fact: Sister P--- has been out for 13 months, and has had 11 companions! She has never had a companion for more than one transfer...except for me! :) That's right, breaking records and all. Transfer number two, and still going strong! 

Saturday, we had Zone Conference, aaannnddd.........WE GOT OUR i-PADS!!! WOOHOO!! :) Moving up in the world! If you couldn't tell, we are very excited! The best part is we each individually get to have our own! We don't have to share them like we do with our dinosaur phones. AND we get to take them home with us! YIPPEEE! I'm feeling pretty spoiled. I'll let you know when we get Facebook. The Lord really is hastening His work. One thing we all have to remember though is the i-Pad is just a tool. The i-Pad does not have the Holy Ghost, and i-Pad cannot baptize. Therefore, we are not an i-Pad mission. They are just tools to help us with the work. 

Also on Saturday, T--- had her baptismal interview! She's getting baptized this Saturday! :) She was so prepared, we are very excited for her! Please pray for her, Satan knows the best times to attack, even on the strongest people.

Sunday, we had four investigators come to church; T---, B---, J---, and C---! After a long, crazy, stressful week, that was a beautiful blessing and miracle.

So that was my adventurous week. Hope all is going well in the land of "normal."

Sister Sommers

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

Hello!

So since the beginning of my mission, every time we drive somewhere, we're always driving past some baseball field. It always makes me miss all the times my family would go to major league Cleveland Indian baseball games. Then, just a couple weeks ago, everyone started talking about Mormon Night- the 66ers baseball game. I wanted to go SO BAD, but I knew President wouldn't go for it. Our Ward Mission Leader, Lorenzo, said he was pretty tight with the AP's and he would just call and ask them...BE MY GUEST...but he's gonna say no.

That evening, we were driving back to the apartment, when the phone rang.

"Hey sisters! We just go a call from Lorenzo, asking if you were allowed to go to the game. We asked President and he said since you're serving in a YSA ward, he feels good about letting you go."

...say WHHHAAATTT!?!?!?

"So as long as you have investigators and less-actives go, and you feel good about it as well, he's going to let you go. He's not gonna let any other missionaries go, so you sisters are pretty special."

AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!

Of course we did all the gasping and screaming once we got off the phone.

Ummm...we get i-Pads on Saturday! WOOHOO!! Supah Dupah excited.

Wednesday, right before the temple tour, we ran into Sister P---'s great-aunt B---! Her real name is E--, but she likes B---. :) She works at the temple, so maybe one of these days we could get her to give the tour.

This week, I finished the Book of Mormon again! Did you know that if you read four chapters of the Book of Mormon everyday, you can finish in two months? So that's what I did. And guess what. The book is still true and still so amazing! You know how I know? Because I've read it, and I've prayed about it. You may be thinking the Book of Mormon must be pretty great by just reading this. BUT you won't know for sure unless you've read and prayed about it yourself. So go do it, even if it's just for five minutes a day. It'll change your life, I promise! 

For the past few months, Sister P--- gave up desserts for a past investigator, J---. He's this cute old man who's been smoking for over 40 years. Then just last week, Sister P--- got an email from her last companion saying how J--- took all of his cigarettes and chucked them over the fence. "I QUIT. I'M DONE. I'M FREE!"

We got to go to his baptism Saturday. :)

It is so amazing how the gospel can completely turn someone's life around, even if it is hard, and you have to make a few sacrifices. It may be tough, but it is worth more than anything in this world.

Saturday, we found this pretty amazing girl, A---. She just graduated high school, and she was just filled with questions. Her dad goes to one church and her mom is goes to another; both very strong religions, but she was never interested in being a part of either of them. She said she was confused, and just wanted some answers. She asked all of the questions every missionary wished more people would ask! So, she's basically like Joseph Smith. [Both of his parents went to different churches. He was praying about which church to go to.] We're excited to be teaching her. :)

Well, that's all folks! Have a goofy day!

Sister Sommers

Miracles Happen Once in a While..

Hey E'erbody,

I turned six-months-old on Wednesday! Holy moly, I am old. I can't believe I've already completed 1/3 of my mission! YIKES! Honestly, sometimes I feel like I've been out here forever, but other days, it goes by way too fast.

This week is transfers! Usually everyone hears from the ZL's where they're going, but Sister P--- and I found out on Saturday from President. We will be staying in the Northpark YSA Ward! Whoop Whoop! Good thing too because whitewashing is too much work just to be staying for one transfer.

I got your package, mom! Thank you! You're the best! :)

Congrats to my baby sister, Sarah, who graduated High School last week! You're all done with school! Haha, just kidding. You still have college. 

6 months out

Tuesday, we had our interviews with President Van Cott. I love having those interviews, I just wish we could have more of them. He has been able to answer any questions I have, and he clearly answers them through the spirit. I just love that man! I love his wife too. She decided she would join our district in our district meeting this week. She and President speak with so much power and passion. It's impossible not to feel the spirit around them.

We set up our booth at Cal State on Wednesday and witnessed so many miracles. When we were first setting up, a guy from another booth walked up and saw some pamphlets about Joseph Smith and just started BASHING us. Please sir, thanks, but no thanks. Once he figured we weren't going to turn this into an argument, he slowly and awkwardly turned around and walked back to his booth. A half-hour later, a girl apologized for how the last guy was acting and told us how ridiculous he was being. After that, our investigator, B---, came to our booth and told us he read from the chapter of the Book of Mormon we gave him. And he came with great questions. :) Yes, the chapter was all about baptism. Afterwards, a girl started talking with us because she knew some other sisters. Then, a guy told us he wanted to get into some family history. And then two girls were passing our booth, and one of them started looking at all the stuff we had to offer. Her friend leaned over and said, "Oh, that's just the Mormons." "So...I wanna look!" She took a Restoration video. And a girl took a picture of our poster of Christ because she liked it. And on top of all of that, people we had met before came over to say hi and see how we were doing. That all happened within just a couple hours!

The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Christ

Friday, we set up our booth again, but it was a lot slower. BUT THEN a girl and a guy who went to school there asked us if they could interview and video us about what our opinions were about "going green." They then told us, the video would be on Youtube and on channel 3 on TV! So I'm basically a celeb, no big deal. We'll probably only be up for about five seconds, but still! The world will see our name tags. It should be up within 5-6 weeks. You'll find it in "CSUSB Local Matters." They weren't sure what the title was going to be, but it'll be something like "Traveling Eco Friendly..." or something like that.

So, that was my awesome week!

Until next time...later skaters!

Sister EmiKaeSom

Her favorite game

It's a Good Life

Hey there!

Wednesday we had i-Pad training! Whoop whoop! Elder Schwitzer, one of the 70, came in and trained us on how to use those magic boxes.

"When you go home, you can tell everyone you worked from B.C. to A.D. (Before Computers to After Digital)."

Good news, I can eat my sweets again! Bad news, I'm gonna gain a million pounds! But I do exercise in the mornings, so it'll probably only be about a thousand.

Yesterday, Sister P--- and I gave talks in Sacrament meeting. I spoke on how we can receive the light of Christ, and how I decided I was going on a mission. Now I've inspired all of the YSA to go on missions, if they haven't already...right? Right.

Last night, was kind of a scary moment. We ran across a busy road, trying to get to our car from a member's home, and right in the middle of the street, I lost my shoe. I tried to pick up my shoe several times, but it kept escaping my hands. This kind of stuff only happens in the movies! But where is the man who's supposed to save me? Of course a man isn't going to save you, you're a missionary! I almost just left it there because traffic was coming close, but luckily I was able to finally grab a hold of it, and got out of the way just in time. Wheww!

We're teaching a young girl and she is the cutest redhead. :) We've been teaching her since the beginning of the transfer, and she's been reading the Book of Mormon everyday! Every week, she goes to school, works at, volunteers at three different hospitals, and yet, still manages to meet with us once a week, and reads from the Book of Mormon everyday! She can already see the blessings that come from reading it. It's also super good because her fiance comes to all the lessons. Oh yeah, and she wants to be baptized by the end of this month. :)

I heard what happened to our beloved apostle, Elder L. Tom Perry. He was filled with so much love and passion for the gospel, you just knew his whole heart was in it. Thank you for your bright, energetic spirit, and all the years you have served the Lord. There is a special place in Heaven for you. I know, on the other side, you will continue to serve Him.

Lots of people always thank me for serving a mission because they know it's hard. Sure it's hard, and I have to make a lot of sacrifices, but like I said before, it's worth it! I have the opportunity to meet lots of different people, and knowing some of them, makes my life seem like a piece of cake, even on the mission. I feel so blessed to have friends and family who love me. I feel so blessed to be serving a mission. And I feel so blessed to have the knowledge of the gospel. 

It's a good life.

Sister Emily KaeLynn Sommers

[I guess California is serious about conserving the water.]

It's a Small Mormon World, After All

Greetings, everyone!

One of the perks to serving in a YSA ward is we get to go to the temple every week and give tours on the temple grounds! HOLLA! Sorry, Disney, you're only the second happiest place on earth. After we were done giving a tour Wednesday evening, a lady came over and tapped Sister Porter from behind. Turns out she was from her home ward! Right after she and her family left, another family came through and asked if I could take their picture in front of the temple.

"Thank you so much! Where are you from?" the oldest daughter asked.

"Akron, Ohio."

"That's where my husband served his mission!"

"No way! What was his name?"

"Elder Prince."

"I know Elder Prince! He didn't serve in my ward, but I remember meeting him."

Hey guys, guess what! I accomplished something pretty big this week! I CAN TOUCH MY TOES!!! I know what you're thinking, "Wow, Sister Sommers, that's a pretty amazing trick." But for reals, I have never, in my life, been able to touch both of my feet without bending my knees. It hurts like no other, but I can do it! WOOHOO!! It's those stretches I do every morning. And all that water I drink...right mom? ;)

Saturday, I was able to attend the baptism of one of Sister Porter's past investigators. I didn't even know him, but it was the most spiritual baptism I have ever been to. This kid has turned his life completely around. He had to wait a year and a half before he could get baptized because he had to take care of certain things, but he did it. The second he came out of the water, you knew he was one of the happiest people in the world. I don't remember everything about my own baptism because I was only eight, but I do remember the thoughts and feelings I had that day. My life would never be the same. My sins were washed away, and I was able to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

I have felt the presence of the Holy Ghost countless times in my life, but coming out on my mission has definitely helped me stay more in tune with the spirit. I can feel it when it prompts me to talk to a certain person, and I can feel it when it gives me warning signs, telling me we shouldn't be in a certain area. And that is a HUGE blessing because San Bernardino isn't the safest place in the world. I won't lie, it's pretty ghetto. I am so grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is one of the most precious gifts our Father in Heaven can give us while we are here on this earth.

Being on my mission is one of the greatest decisions I have ever made. It's awesome, but I won't lie about this either; missions are HARD. They are hard, but they are so worth it!

Stay amazing, my friends. Watch out for a miracle.

Sister Sommers 

Jacaranda Tree

Me, Sister Porter, Michael, James (investigator), Lorenzo (the most awesome Ward Mission Leader)

Clumsy Feet

Part of the Ashland Young Women Care Package

It's Raining Monster Snails!!!

Welcome to my next blog post!

Let's see what happened this week...

Oh yeah! It was Elder Trevar Wayne Dahl's birthday this week! Happy Birthday, you krazy kid! Sorry you can't be a teen no mo.

So, at the beginning of the week, we decided it was about time to dedicate our area. We walked into the church building, and opened the doors to the sacrament room. When I flipped the light switch, I was so startled to see a kid about our age sleeping on the nearest bench. He woke up and gathered his things real quick.

"Oh...I'm sorry...I was just...trying to get some rest before my next class."

Before we could say anything, he walked right out. Sister Porter and I stood there and looked at each other. We laughed for a good few minutes. :) Poor kid. He just wanted his sleep.

It was Sister Porter's 1-year mark on Thursday, so we celebrated with huge, delicious gourmet hot dogs and smoothies! I hear after you've been out a year, the time is all downhill from there. Hold on!

Saturday, we spent a few hours cleaning a park with a bunch of "...rocks...thorns...glass...not cool, Robert Frost!" (It's ok if you don't get it. Just watch Kid President.)

Snailing . . . it's a thing.

Teeth Chattering

I am seriously not getting this weather! It's been cold and rainy again, but now it comes with these HUGE snails! I think I've only ever seen the dime-sized ones, but these are like the size of my fist! GROSS! So now I'm always watching where I walk so I don't step on one.

Guess what! iPads are coming! Woohoo! We have a training coming up next week. No more carrying a million books and binders everywhere we go! AND we get to show people videos the church has created right on spot! Is technology awesome or what! The only thing is I haven't used any of those magic boxes in forever, so it might be a while until I finally get my technological smarts back. Heavenly Father is really hastening His Work. As long as we properly use these devices in the way we're supposed to, I know the work will become faster and more successful.

California State

Last week, President Van Cott told all of us that he and his wife would be going to SLC for a few days for a training on iPads. When other mission presidents found out he had told all of his missionaries that he would be gone for a few days, they couldn't believe it. A lot of them said if they had told their missionaries they would be leaving the mission, it would just be chaos. That just shows how much our mission president trusts us. Gaining the trust of President Van Cott is HUGE! He strictly keeps us in line, but loves us unconditionally. It's because of him, we're one of the most obedient missions. Not to boast or brag, or anything, but we're pretty dang awesome.

Keep it real, everyone.

Sister Sommers

Jeremy, Daisy and Sister Rai

Weekly Planning

Celebrating 1-year for Sister Porter

In-and-Out Burger with the Rails.

HEY YOU! YEAH YOU. YOU SHOULD READ THIS!

So...not too much happened this week, other than I got to SKYPE MY FAMILY!!! I will admit, after not seeing my family for so long, they sometimes kind of seem like a figment of my imagination. It's comforting to know that they are real human beings that love me. Sure, it's super duper nice to get emails from them every week, but it's great when I can speak directly to them. Ya'll looked real cute on screen!

It's so funny that my mom thought it was Mother's Day yesterday. Everyone knows she became a mom on January 25th!

...just kidding! 

Happy Mother's Day to all of you wonderful mommy's out there, especially my own! She does SOOO much for me, and without her, I would not be the person I am today. I don't say it nearly as often as I should, but I truly mean it! My mom is #thebomb.com! Hope you all were able to talk to your mom's this week! If not, write them a letter. And if that's not possible, pray for them. Also, remember that even if you don't have kids, it doesn't make you any less of a mom if you love and care for those who look up to you. #superheros 

I remembered the other thing I was going to say from yesterday! A while back, I had a dream that Sarah came to California and walked straight into our apartment.

"Sarah! What are you doing here?"

"I had to come see you so I could tell you that I'm engaged!"

"WHAT?!"

She took me to the parking-lot, and led me to an old rusty pick-up truck. There inside, with his thick black glasses was her half white, half Asian fiance.

Watch out, Sarah. He might be comin' for ya.

Speaking of marriage, my cute ma and pops will have been married for twenty-one years, this Thursday! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!! They're gettin' up there with age, so just thought I'd send a friendly reminder. :)

So tell me what's wrong with this picture. It's warm, sunny, and 95 degrees out in Ohio. It rained three days straight, this week in Cali, and the temperatures dropped down to the 60's. Thumbs-up to Mother Nature!

This week, I have thought about some of the small trials I've had to deal with in my life. Not to feel bad for myself, but because coming out on my mission has made me truly grateful for those trials. I think they have really taught me how to love, and how to have sympathy for those who may have been dealt similar cards. Life can be hard, but because of what our Savior did for us, our burdens can be made light. It's been fun seeing some of my trials become blessings in disguise. Compared to lots of people, I think I've had it pretty easy for the last twenty years. I truly believe the gospel plays the biggest part in that.

Thanks for reading yet another week in the missionary life!

Love and miss you all!

Sister Emily KaeLynn Sommers

They say the longer you live with each other, the more you start to look like one another...Nahh!