Week 30

David Archuleta

YES! David came to do some recording work in Nashville and passed by to sing to my mission! He answered some questions and shared with us his testimony and it was so amazing:) I guess some people knew he was coming but everyone else had no idea because they had kept it hush hush. He is definitely as cute as can be and seriously has an amazing voice and such a strong testimony of this gospel! His story of how he decided and was able to go on a mission is truly inspiring.

I wasn't able to send a letter last week, forgive me, but it has been a good couple of weeks. I have a new area and a new companion who is supper sweet and a cool area next to Middle Tennessee University! I met some pretty crazy people.

There are a lot of Hispanics here and many progressing investigators. The member families are still the same ones I worked with in Smyrna, kind of, but now I get to see them much more often because I am closer to them.

Here are some random things that have happened.

-A member randomly took us out to eat at a place where they threw shrimp at my face.

-My apartment complex has a GYM!

-We got permission to use the "Seven" app for exercising and it is killing me:P

-I found out that there are many Orellanas in Bolivia and I met a couple people with my last name! (I took a picture of it for proof! Also we might be related:)

-I found a love for cake pops

-I found more love at Waffle House! #betterthanihop #tryitforyourself

-Saturdays are the days to talk to crazy drunk men

-We walked into a party of drunk Hispanics and invited them to church

-one of the drunk Hispanics asked me to marry him after my mission #atleastherespectedTHEMISH #awesomejournalstory

-Bought ugly sweaters at goodwill:)

-Survived a tornado warning

-Carved pumpkins

-Met a man with a snake and my companion touched it

-mom sent me new clothes:)

-Got to listen to David Archuleta;)

*There will be a lot of pictures! and a video or two of David;)

I have a testimony of the power of the Atonement. It has been on my mind lately and I am just so thankful that Heavenly Father has made if possible for us to have a Savior. It seams impossible but it is real. There is no reason for anyone to be holding in pain of any kind. There is something powerful about being able to say I am sorry and having all those regrets, inadequacies, and sadness be lifted of ones shoulders. Thought the atonement we can all be made completely clean and be able to stand in front of our God and say that we don't regret a thing and that we are worthy to be with him.

Love y'all

    Hermana Orellana

Week 29

I have never missed a transfer meeting

I was really hoping to be missing this transfer meeting for various reasons but of course Heavenly Fathers plan is much more wise and important than mine. When Hermana Capener and I got the call we were both extremely shocked. We are being whitewashed by Elders! We both burst out in tears and just hugged each other. I then realized that I wouldn't be going very far though. The ward that I serve for had two sets of Hermanas because the area was so large. One set in Murfreesboro and us in Smyrna. So now I get to move 20 min away to Murfreesboro and serve with Hermana Eastwood who I know very well:) I can't say the same for Hermana Capener though... She gets to move all the way out to Kentucky to a college town named Hopkinsville or we call it Hoptown. She is exited...:)

Oh man will I miss her! She has stretched me more than I ever knew I could go. I wanted to be able to serve together much longer, but we are both hoping that we get to become companions again... no it is not too uncommon! It will happen!... If I pray hard enough.

This week was full of unforgettable moments as well as stressful ones. First of all on Tuesday Hna Capener lost her ipad! We have been trying to search for it all week and now that we are both leaving we really don't know what to do but we are not giving up! We will be posting "missing ipad" all over town today.

On Saturday night we met a man knocking who was a Baptist preacher and he called us the devil church. That really hurt my feelings, but all is well. We invited him to conference and he declined. My purpose is to invite!

Conference was phenomenal! I specially loved Elder Lynn G. Robbins who talked about the way we face and how we should search for praises from God instead of mans. This talk really helped me in making goals to be more valiant when testifying and teaching. Others that I loved were Elder Jorg Klebingat, Elder Bednar's, Elder Holland's and of course my dear prophet's President Monson. I will definetly be re-listening to them:)

Well, here I go off to another transfer! I hope y'all have a wonderful week!

     Hermana Julia Orellana