Monday, June 27, 2016

HELLO beautiful people, it's me, still a missionary out here in California!

First week out here in Studio City/North Hollywood aka city of broken dreams.
It's a whole new world out here. Our area consists of places like Warner Bros, Nickelodeon, Panasonic, Comcast, Universal Studios, mingled with too many freeways, millions of people, patches of suburb, the hills with tons of celebs, producers, directors, and other people trying to make it big. I've never had so many doors slammed in my face, yet my heart has never been so happy.
Lol we met a girl at church who said she's studying to be a director and then followed by saying, "Ya, so I'll be a waitress" hahaha true.

Our apartment is literally 5 minutes away from Universal and my heart gets happy and cries every time I see Harry Potter World :(

My new companion, Sister Ipson

We got fruit from a celeb!

My Trainer, Sis Maxfield, is heading home

Street Art

So close. See you next year, Harry.
 But it's all good.
Sis Ipson and I are white washing this area and it's buck wild crazy fun times! We are seriously having so much fun and are so excited to rebuild this area and get it hoppin'! Plus our zone has like 70% of my fav people in the mish so it'll be some good times for sure :) Also our ward is super funny and super crazy hahah but we love them a lot.


We spent a lot of time this week running around getting to know members and less actives and knocking a lot in the hills trying to hunt down Steve Correll and Ryan Gosling... Instead we found the Producer of Avatar's brother that is the big deal of E-Cigs (super cool dude that gave us fruit) and the daughter of Luis Zamperini (Olympic runner and inspiration of the book/movie "Unbroken"). Stay tuned though, we'll work hard on them! 

I think the biggest highlight of my week was my studies though. They have been straight fire. I won't get on a soapbox and preach but wowie the gospel is truuuuuueeeeeeee! Keep reading your scrippy's and having sincere prayer! I love you all so so so so much!!!
 xooxox
-sis d

be you, be true.




Monday, June 20, 2016

Hello mi familia y amigos :)

This week was seriously so sublime I think my heart melted like 20384023 times.
LA TEMPLE trip this week!

Overlooking Malibu California

TRANSFERS--bye Sis Bullock!

Granola Girl
So long, Farewell Northridge

So many crazy miracles teaching the best people ever. A very successful week of the spirit touching hearts, mostly mine. 
We went to the LA Temple and I mostly want to talk about that. 
Half of the mission was there and I love those people more than most things and there is no better feeling than being in the celestial room with people that mean so much to you.
With Josh's passing a little over a year ago and Grandpa Crew and Grandpa John's passing a few weeks ago, my heart was ready to be filled by the spirit within the walls of the Lord's house.
When we were walking in the temple doors, I flashed back to about 13 years ago. My mom was telling me a bunch of things she loved about my Grandpa Dohner. She told me that he loved hummingbirds and every time she saw one, she felt like he was there with her. Right then a hummingbird flew by and I immediately was filled with so much love.
Something I have been thinking a lot about this week is family. And something I have been really studying is the Atonement and God's plan.
...I am trying to put my feelings into words but I just cannot because no words can describe the sanctity of those topics. 

Before my mission, being married in the temple and having a family was definitely something I desired, but it definitely was beneath my list of selfish desires. The more I understand God's plan and the reality of it all, I have come to understand why Eternal families are so sacred. THEY ARE EVERYTHING! 
I am getting transferred and my heart is torn because I love YSA but I am so happy to be with families again and be in the midst of families centered on Christ. (And home cooked meals😊)

DIOS ES AMOR!!! And I love you all to pieces!!
Stay cute and fresh!
xoxo, Hermana Dohner

Monday, June 13, 2016

Hey loves :,)
This week was nutso crazy good with many many miracles!
We are teaching a couple really stellar people but we really have been trying to find more people to teach. Last Sunday we fasted to find those sifted throughout the valley that the Lord has prepared. FASTING AND PRAYER IS SO REAL. 
Pro Chefs

Weekly Service

One of the highlights was this dude that literally JUST moved here from Texas this week. He was walking 6 miles away from his house because he got lost, and ran into some sisters (my bb Sis.Beddes). He came to church with us yesterday and was introducing himself during class and said: "I ran into the sisters on the street and it changed my life". Then we had another lesson with him last night and I asked him what it meant to him to know God is his loving Heavenly Father and he said, "In a nutshell, it feels like I'm coming home." AHHHHH SOOOO COOOL!!!
 
I literally feel like my heart is physically melting. These people make my heart drip with joy and gratitude.
I LOVE THIS LIFE. :)))))

And I love you all!!! Have the best week and pray your little hearts out <3
xoxoxoxoo Sister Dohner





Monday, June 6, 2016

Happy Monday beauts! :)

So there is this roller coaster in Disney World called Expedition Everest. It's one where you go up this steep hill slowly, like many do--building up anticipation, then it drops and you're going super fast and it's a thrill. Then when you start to think you're getting the hang of it, you're all of a sudden in a dark cave and a Yeti jumps out! Then the rest of the roller coaster you're going backwards, mostly in the dark. It's one of my favorite rides.
Well this roller coaster is a simile of my week:
A mission really is an interesting thing, and life is the same. Where we're on this ride that we were super excited to come on, even though we knew there would be sharp turns, unexpected drops, time in the dark going backwards, and a million emotions in between. 
Golfing on P-Day with ward members

California Wildfires

I want to include a couple conference quotes that really hit home for me this week:

"Some of you may at times have cried out in your suffering, wondering why our Heavenly Father would allow you to go through whatever trials you are facing...
"Our mortal life, however, was never meant to be easy or consistently pleasant. our Heavenly Father knows that we learn and grow and become refined through hard challenges, heartbreaking sorrows, and difficult choices, Each one of us experience dark days when our loved ones pass away, painful times when our health is lost, feelings of being forsaken when those we love seem to have abandoned us. These and other trials present us with the real test of our ability to endure." -Thomas S. Monson

"In reality, the best way to help those we love- the best way to love them- is to continue to put the Savior first." -D. Todd Christofferson

I add my testimony to these wonderful men that God knows what He's doing. He lives, He is aware of us, and He has provided a way for us to never feel alone through our Savior, Jesus Christ. God's plan is perfect.

I love you humans x32532
Xo, Sis. Chels D.