Chapter 73: It Was A HIT!

Hello Everyone!
You could say that this week was an interesting one.... I think this picture will sum it up pretty well :)So yeah :) That was our "hit" this week :). But before yall get all worried... We were not in the car.
 This was actually a pretty huge tender mercy. So heres the story. We pull up to this trailer park to go and try by a part member family pretty late ( about 8pm). Usually we take a few minutes to talk about what we want to share with them, say a prayer, ect but that night was different. We parked said a quick prayer, then hopped out. 1 min later we knock on the door. 15 seconds later, we hear the crash. We turn around to see smoke billowing out of the dominos pizza car that just smashed into ours. Luckily the kid was okay!!! Just a bloody nose and a headache. So that was the start to our week! We spent the rest of the night talking with the police and the elders came too cause we were kinda freaking out so they were a nice support to have there. When we finally got home we said the most sincere prayer of gratitude I think I may have ever said. God is so good. He knew exactly what was going to happen and I firmly believe that He was there protecting us. I know He is there watching out for all of us.
SO because of those exciting events, we have spent a lot of time in the dmv, talking with the vehicle coordinator to get insurance stuff worked out, and taking drives to Hermiston to get estimates on what its going to take to fix this baby.... so we have been on foot when working cause President doesn't want us driving a banged up car. The hills of Pendleton make it pretty exhausting to walk everywhere but we are pounding out some amazing work here. Things haven't slowed down so we are just learning to walk faster :). We have had some amazing lessons this week and tender mercy, we've been able to get to all of them on time :). These people here are so humble and willing to change. Its amazing and I feel so honored to serve them.
We have been counting out blessings this week and its amazing to see how the list keeps getting longer and longer. I love my Heavenly Father. He has given me so much and love that I get to give back in my small way this Christmas season by serving his children. I cant think of a better work to be a part of :) I love you all so much and I hope you have a very Merry Christmas! My invitation to yall would be to think of something you can give the Christ child this year to become a little better than you were. I think of one of my favorite Christmas songs ( forgive me, I dont know the title).
What can I give him
poor as I am
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb
If I were a wise man
I would do my part
What can i give him
I will give my heart.

Give the Savior your heart this year and I know that the blessings will be everlasting :) I love Him with all my heart and I'm so grateful for all He's done for me.
Merry Christmas Yall!
Sister Tobler

PS from the mother:  The blue car belongs to the pizza delivery guy.  The red one is the sisters.  So thankful that he was alright.  Heavenly Father truly does watch over and protect us.

Chapter 72: O Holy Night!

Hello Everyone!
I don't know where the weeks are flying off to but man has this week been fast! I'll try to just share a few highlights but there were a lot so :)
WE FOUND A NEW INVESTIGATOR! His name is R___ and R____ is super cool :) It was late one night and we were knocking on the doors of a few formers. He opened up, said he had visited with missionaries and that he has some family members who are members. We chatted a little more and he said the last sisters he talked with helped him so much so he would love to have us come back. Fast forward to this week, we go in, teach the restoration and he asks all the right questions. " How can I know what path God wants me to follow?" "Is there one way?" And all sorts of things like that. The spirit was so strong so we invited him to be baptized and he said YES! How cool is that! He didn't feel ready to set a specific date but we are excited to see him start to grow his testimony and come to experience the gospel :).
So we set out one night to go and contact a few people and nothing was working out. No one home... so we were onto our final back up plan which was to knock that street but something just didn't feel right about that. So I pulled out a list a referrals some old sisters hadn't contacted I I really felt like we needed to find J___. So we drive around a bit and find the house up on this hill behind some trees. Knock on the door and we meet S____. She invites us in immediately and says that our timing is perfect. Her husband (who we were looking for) passed away 2 weeks ago and she really needed some prayers. We just sat and cried with her and shared a little about how our families can be together again. She told us that she really hoped that we come back again soon and my heart just melted for her. God is so aware of his children and when they need a little pick me up. It was amazing to be so in tune and see those blessings.
What else happened this week... Oh! I sang at the ward Christmas party! I wish I had a recording for y'all because oh my goodness I blew that "Oh Holy Night" out of the water! Made a few people cry and I hit the crazy high note near the end :) Just had to dust to cobwebs off those old pipes :) So fun and we had a lot of less actives that we invited come which was super awesome!
I know there are more things that I'm forgetting to talk about but I'm sure I'll remember later on :) Its amazing down here in Pendleton. I love this little town and all its quirky people. They are so humble and in such great need of the gospel and its been so amazing to get to look for them everyday. I love being a missionary. Best. Job. Ever :). I love y'all and thank you for your love and prayers! They mean so much to me.
Till next week!
Sister Tobler

Sister Paz

Chapter 71: Christmas Time is Here!

Hello Everyone!
Oh my goodness this week has just flown by! I love this time of year when everyone is starting to prepare for Christmas :) I'll have to take a picture of main street cause y'all will just die its so cute. I feel like I'm living in a Hallmark movie. So fun :) We have been working so hard and its been amazing to see how God is continuing to prepare people here in this little town. We met with so many people this week it was great and it feels like this is finally my area :). I forgot my planner in the car so I won't get to write about everything but here are a few highlights.
So we finally got to meet with one of our investigators named C___ and his less active wife M____. Such a sweet couple. I  love them already. Were just chatting about her conversion story and all that jazz and she says, " well you know, C____ wants to get baptized." I think my mouth just about dropped open as I looked over at him and he nodded. "Yeah," he said. "I'm only in 2 Nephi but I want to." Talk about blessing from on high! So cool :). I'm super excited to see the progress that he makes this week.
We also had the best mutual activity EVER this week! So we've been talking about it as a district for a little while now ( BTW, I have the best district EVER). So we combined all the wards and did this big Light the World activity. SO FUN! We shared a message at the beginning and then proceeded to make cards and plates of goodies for lots of widows and less actives and then, cherry on top, WE CAROLED!!!! Caroling is my favorite and it was so fun to see the excitement on their faces :). I love Christmas. Its the best :).
We have seen lots of little miracles this week as well. We have been working out of the area book a ton and its neat to see how receptive many of these people still are. I'm not sure I can describe a better feeling than meeting someone new and hearing that they loved their experience meeting with the missionaries years ago and for some reason, things have changed in their lives and they feel like they could really use the gospel now. For example, S___. One of her friends sent us over there and we had a great visit. She told us about her rocky past with drugs and how while she turned over a new leaf years ago, she still feels like she is missing something. I know that the "something" she feels missing is the gospel. The Gospel of Jesus Christ fills a hole in our souls that maybe we didn't even know was there. It is such a powerful thing.
I love being a missionary and getting to share his word. Its such a privileged to be a part of His church so go out and share it! Ask the missionaries for some pass along cards! Sharing the gospel brings so much joy and I'd love for all of y'all to feel some of that fire :) I love you and all and thanks for your prayers!!
Love ya!
Sister Tobler

Chapter 70: Pendleton, The Promised Land.

Hello Everyone!
I think about a year ago I was telling everyone that Pasco was the Promised land, well let me tell you, I didn't know Pendleton back then :). This place is absolutely AMAZING! Let me give you a little play by play of my week.
So Monday and Tuesday were spent packing, saying goodbye to a few people, and squeezing in as many lessons as possible. It was so hard to say good bye to the G____ ( our Recent Converts) but at least I know that I can go back and visit someday soon :). Plus saying good bye to Sister Calder was killer. I never want to do that again.
Wednesday... The day I got my companion :). I love Sister Paz so much. She's so sweet and actually reminds me a lot of myself at the beginning of my mission except not nearly as stubborn ;) ( I know, me? Stubborn? :) :) :) ). She's from St George UT and she's 24. So we didn't get out of the trainer meeting till about 4pm so we didn't get into Pendleton till about 5:45. Had a quick dinner with an amazing family in the ward that is super missionary minded, ran to Walmart with the help and guidance of the elders, and finally got back in our apartment at about 8:20. It was crazy. Pendleton makes no sense but  I think I may be starting to get the hang of things :).
Thursday was Thanksgiving!!!! WOOHOO! We got to eat with the bishop and we went and delivered cookies to some of our investigators so that we could get to meet them.
Friday we finally got to hit the ground running. Unfortunately, the previous sisters failed to leave us much notes wise on how the works been going here so we started out a little blind as to where we needed to be but that didn't stop us! We just hit the ground running and started making plans by the Spirit and so far its been working pretty well :). I love the investigators here. They are all so sweet and have such a desire to make Christ a bigger part of their lives! Its amazing to see the leaps and bounds that they are making and to hear about their experiences as they've been learning.
Saturday. You're not going to believe me... WE BAPTIZED 2 PEOPLE ALREADY :). T___ and K___ :) We got to meet them twice before the baptism and they are just amazing. It was a little weird jumping into a baptism like that but they were so ready.
So ya see, Pendleton truly is the promised land. I know that we are going to continue to see amazing miracles here because I mean look, Its only been one week and we've seen baptisms. The transfer is still young and I know that God is preparing more people to receive the gospel here. I love this work so much. Its my life and I hope to be forever engaged in it :) We met the funniest family ever this week in the ward. The Barnes. Brother Barnes is my favorite. I'm pretty sure he has lost his marbles and the only ones left are the gospel marbles because boy is that man passionate about the restoration of the gospel! Frankly, its hilarious and also motivating at the same time. He eats, sleeps, and breaths the gospel and is always looking for opportunities to share it. I hope I can one day be as bold as Brother Barnes :) I love you all! Thank you for all the prayers and support you give! I truly couldn't do it without you!
Love y'all!
Sister Tobler

Chapter 69: Tranfers

Hello Everyone!
It has been a bitter sweet last 24 hours. I'll just cut right to it since I know that ya'll really want to hear about transfers. This dynamic duo is being split up :(. I guess President has to spread the love and hard work around because he needs me down in Pendleton Oregon now! How crazy is that!!! I am so sad to be leaving Sister Calder and my heart is kinda broken now having to part with her again but I know that Gods will is always best, no matter how much I wanted to be able to spend the holidays with my favorite companion.  Now let me tell you the sweet part. I'm training a new missionary... HECK YEAH!!!!!! I am so excited and so nervous for this new adventure in life. I've never left the tri- cities before but I know that God will help me in all that I do :).
The rest of this week has been pretty amazing! We found 4 new investigators and we hope to see them start progressing at rapid speeds soon as we come into the holidays. This is my favorite time of year, especially as a missionary. The air is turning cold, you can always see your breath, and people are starting to feel the Christmas cheer. So many people are out serving their neighbors and its inspiring to see the power of Christ as we enter this Christmas season. We had a special meeting with a general authority this week and he told us that as Christians, we OWN December. People expect us to talk about Christ so why not do it?! Light the World comes out this week so I'd love to invite all of yall to watch it and share it with someone and get involved in the initiative. I know I'm excited for it :).
I don't know if I have much more else to share. I went on my final exchange as an STL this week and I just have to say how much I have loved getting to serve the sisters of this mission. I am so grateful for the opportunities that I have been given to serve and feel the love that my Savior has for each of these sisters and I have learned so much from them in the process.
I love my Savior and I know that He is the only reason that I am able to do what I do. He is the reason I live and breathe and I am grateful for all that He gives me. I am so grateful that I have been blessed to have the gospel in my life and that I get to share it with others. I love you all and thanks for all your prayers!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sister Tobler

Chapter 68: Extension???

Hello Everyone!
Oh my goodness gracious this has been such a busy and miracle filled week! I'll try to not go into too many details. Overall.... the biggest miracle... We found FIVE new investigators this week!!! We worked our tails off and of course, the Lord provided the miracle after we showed our faith. I'll just give a few quick synopsis' because some of them have really cool stories with how we found them.
T___- So he's dating a less active member and he happened to be home when we were going to see her. He told us that his sister has been meeting with the missionaries in her area and that shes getting baptized soon. He was then able to open up and told us that he has been meaning to take the lessons but had been procrastinating it and he wasn't sure why, especially when he loves the church so much. We talked about the how the gospel would bless them as a family and the excitement and the light seemed to glow brighter and brighter in his eyes and he was so excited to have us come back and start teaching him of how this could bless his life.
G____- We'd been trying to meet with her for a few weeks but her health problems have been a bit of a stumbling block. But we were able to catch her while we were on exchanges and she said that she has felt like something is missing and she'd love to have us come and read the Book of Mormon with her because she cant even read! But she felt the spirit the last time she had missionaries over and wants that feeling back in her life.
J___- She was a but stand offish at first but opened us and said that she felt like something was missing in her church. When we handed the Book of Mormon to her she started flipping through it and said ( and I quote)" This is perfect. Something will come of this" with a big grin on her face :). And thus we see that she will be coming to church this week for a tour of the building. She also has 9 children and she feels like this could be something really great for them. :)
W___ and L___- They are cute :) They have met with missionaries in the past before as well and while they came to know a lot of the doctrine they were never able to feel the truthfulness of it because of certain circumstances. But now they are open and willing to come to know for themselves if this really is the true church!
Isn't it amazing to see how the work really is progressing?!? God is pouring out miracles here in the Edison ward and a feel so lucky to get to be a part of it. This is an amazing work. I talked to President White this week about an extension during my interview because I think I could honestly stay here forever and be perfectly happy knocking on doors :) Don't worry Mom and Dad. He looked at it and my mission is already running a little long so he cant let me stay but it made me feel really good that he said he would keep me in a heartbeat if they would let him. Unfortunately the missionary department has rules so sisters cant serve for 2 years ;). I couldn't ask for a better life. Great area. Great companion. Great area. Great work. Its just awesome :) I am so grateful to all of y'all and all the support and prayers y'all give on my behalf. Thank you for everything! Till next week!
Sister Tobler