Hello everyone!

So good news I found out that I'm allowed to email my immediate family and grandparents so here goes! So I am in East Wenatchee Washington. My trainer is Sister Haws from Arizona and she is awesome! I really could not ask for a better trainer. She's been out for 10 months and is pretty good at Spanish. I get to speak less spanish than I thought because the English and Spanish areas are now combined, but it's still fun. It just might take me longer to learn Spanish. So my first day up I went contacting right away and it was awesome, but nerve wracking. We then spent the rest of the day in training with President Palmer. He is so cool! He's from New Zealand so he has an awesome accent. His wife is way sweet and they're both just so nice. Spokane is absolutely beautiful! I love all the trees. We spent the night in some members homes and then the next morning we found out where our areas were and who our companions were. Then I got to drive 3 hours to E. Wenatchee. It's not quite as pretty as Spokane, but it's nice to be by a river.

So right when we got here we were contacting. I didn't even get to finish unpacking until Saturday so we have been busy. The hard thing was though that all of our appointments fell through until Friday. So we got to do a lot of knocking on doors, but it actually went pretty well. They have what they call a Focus Five group in every ward. Which means that every auxiliary in a ward picks five people that are either inactive, recent converts, or investigators that they set up appointments for us to teach. So we did a ton of those for most of the week and got to teach a few investigators on the weekend. Sister Haws and I cover one of the largest areas over here. We cover two wards and a branch (Spanish). Because of this we get a car and we don't have to share it so that's pretty nice.

Christmas Eve was way awesome. I was worried it would be hard because Latinos celebrate Christmas that day and all of our appointments were with Latinos, but they came and we could teach them. One lady Magdela is so golden. I'm pretty positive she'll be the next relif society president because she's just so amazing. And she's so patient with my Spanish. All of them are and they help me out so much it's great. We went to dinner at a members house and it was really good and then we went contacting for a little bit. The first door we knocked on was a man named Miguel and he invited us right in. He has a wife and two kids and he's from Colombia and is a fisherman in Alaska. But he loves God and the Bible. He spent almost an hour telling us how he had been to a ton of different churches, but none of them seemed to teach everything that the Bible does. And he even talked about the gift of tongues and how he believes God wouldn't give it to us unless we were teaching His gospel. He's golden. We teach him and his family again tonight and I'm way excited.

Christmas Day morning was so fun. Sister Haws and I were like little kids running into the living room to open our presents. I needed everything I got and they were all so great! So thank you mom, dad, and family! We go to 3 different sacrament meetings because we cover 3 different wards and I was so excited because we had so many people say they were going to come to church and we really believed they would. It was so nervewracking waiting for them and then not a single one came. Not even the one guy we have for baptism. It was crushing. But I guess this is like my first reality check. After Church we went to Bishop Merrills house and got to call home. This was easily the highlight of my day. It was so good to hear everyone's voices! I love my family!

After that we went and had kind of a Mexican dinner with some members and then forgot that we had another dinner appointment so we went to this familie's house and had heaping plates of spaghetti. We were already stuffed before we got there, but we felt bad because we forgot about their appointment so we ate it all. Ugh. I think I have had enough Christmas goodies and food to last me a long time. From there we were going to go visit some people in the wards who didn't ever get out of the house because they were old and alone or sick. So we took our extra goodies and started delivering. The first person that was finally home was a Sister Cates. Neither of us knew anything about her. She's a smoker and so we could barely breathe when we went in there and we still smell like smoke, lovely. We had just finished chatting, and sharing a spiritual thought and were getting ready to pray when she said there's no such thing as a prophet. She went on and on about how we're all just humans and God wouldn't talk to anyone and we just follow a man and his opinion. I bore my testimony to her about how I knew there was a prophet on the earth today because I had prayed and God had shown me that there was. She then said that I was wrong. There was no way I could know something like that I could only "believe." She said there was no way I "knew" any of this stuff because God does not talk to us. I feel bad to say that I was absolutely furious. I don't get mad very easily, but I was just so shocked and upset that she could tell me that the feelings I received were not true and that I did not know that the Church was true. Any time we tried to testimony she would not hear it. We left shortly thereafter and that ended our Christmas visits and goodies. After we drove away and were talking about it I realized that I was more sad for her than upset. The fact that she wouldn't even listen to what we knew and was bent on convincing us of how brainwashed we were was heartbreaking. Sister Haws told me she still doesn't know how to handle situations like that. I know I'll see this a lot more, but this was my first time and it was so sad. I feel like I may have gotten a tiny taste of what Heavenly Father must feel like when His children do not listen to Him and even oppose Him.

Needless to say the highlight of Christmas day was definitely the phone call home. But it's all good because we're back to work this evening and there are so many people who are just jumping to get baptized. It is very sad when one rejects the truth of the Gospel, but there are so many others that are eager to accept. I have the best job ever! I can't believe I was only in the MTC last week. I feel like I've been here forever already!

I love you all and hope you had a very Merry Christmas!

My new address is:

606 Lacy Place

E. Wenatchee, WA 98802

Herman Probst

Dear Brother and Sister Probst,

I was pleased to welcome your daughter, Sister Probst, to the Washington Spokane Mission this week. I’m happy to report that she arrived safely. I had the privilege of meeting and associating with her the day of her arrival and note that it is evident that she comes with a great desire to serve Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Sister Probst understands the role of the Holy Ghost in accomplishing the work here in the Washington Spokane Mission and has committed to live worthy of that power.

After prayerful consideration, I have called Sister Haws to serve as Sister Probst’s training companion in the Wenatchee, Washington area. It is our objective to call only the best missionaries to serve as trainers and I believe that your daughter is in excellent training hands. We expect that your missionary will serve in this area for the next 6 to 12 weeks as she begins her mission.

I have attached photographs of your missionary and assure you that Sister Palmer and I will love Sister Probst. Our great desire is that her time here will further establish her on the path of righteousness, as well as bless the many people she will serve.

Thank you so much for sharing Sister Probst with us.

Sincerely,

S. Mark Palmer, President

WASHINGTON SPOKANE MISSION

Hola! So this is my last email from the MTC! Crazy! Hopefully my next email will be from better computers. MOM - THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR THE PACKAGE!!!! I absolutely loved it! The clothes are going to be perfect and the fudge was so good! I didn't get it until late last night so I had to use a ruler to cut the fudge, but I was so excited to get it all. Thank you so much! Oh- and tell Lauren that of course we can be sisters, but if she talks about camping with my family without me we may have to have a serious talk ;) jk it was hilarious. So I'm kind of sad this morning because Sister Martina and Sister Clark left. It's so weird not having them here and all our neighbors are gone too. Luckily we'll get more neighbors today. I'm so ready to leave. I'm easily the second worst in my class for Spanish, but it's okay because I know that I've been doing my part and the Lord will make up the difference. And I'm the only one who has never taken a Spanish class before so I don't feel too bad anymore. I'm so excited to be out in the field and can hardly stand it! I got my travel plans. I leave Monday morning at 8:42 and get to Spokane at like 9:40, but I have to be at the travel office at 5 in the morning so it will be an early day for me. Also I'm allowed to call home at the airport! It can only be for a few minutes and depending on how long it takes us to get through security it may or may not happen, but I'm planning on it. In regards to mail if you want to send me another dearelder tomorrow would probably be the last time to send it because Saturday we only get mail half of the day and sometimes those letters take a day or two it get. Also when I get to the field you'll have to pay for postage for dearelders. I'm really not hoping for a decrease in mail especially because it's Christmas time, but I am a little worried about. Maria and Brent - thank you so much for the card. Who speak Spanish? Also I don't know when I'll be able to email again because I don't know when my next pday will be. Tammy - thank you for the letter and I'm sorry about your back. Tell Glade I'm proud of him though. Dad - realize that I'm doing laundry with a bunch of 19 year old boys who many of which have never done laundry before in their lives so you would not believe all the stuff that happens in the laundry room or the machines. I would strongly suggest that mom make all the boys do their own laundry and ironing, and sewing from now on just so they know how. It's amazing how hindering it is to these Elders who don't know how to do it or have no experience doing it. We still don't know if H. Ziegler will get to leave with us on Monday. She has had MRI, EEG, EMG, met with Psychiatrists, neurologists and ENTs and nobody knows what wrong other than she has ADHD. We have on average 5 visits a week and they take up at least half the day. Amazing. Funny stories: when I went to Physical therapy the lady working with me was super hyper and so we had pushup contests. I almost won it was really close, but Hermana Collins won with 21 pushups, but I came up close with 4. So I've gotten closer to a man here in the MTC than at any other dating experience. Elder Hargiss and I held hands. I know we're missionaries, but he's just that persistent. Just kidding, but we did hold hands accidently. Don't ask how it happened, you wouldn't believe me anyway. Another funny story. There was a really short teacher about 4'9 who taught us the other day and gave me a hug. Elder Sanchez was not there to witness it and so when she came back he asked if she would hug me because he heard it looked pretty cool. Everyone's jaw fell to the floor except his because he had no idea how embarassing his comment was. She took it pretty well so it was funny. It's amazing how fast time is going by now. Remember when I had such a hard time sleeping at night? Now it seems like as soon as my head hits the pillow I'm already waking up. I haven't had that problem in year ;) Every day goes by faster and faster and I'm only in the MTC. I can't believe I'm almost finally in Washington, but I can't wait for it. Elder Hargiss and Elder Miller have been able to teach an actual investigator in TRC. Every time they come back it's like a spiritual high for the whole group because they're teaching an actual person with real problems and questions not just an actor. It gets us all super pumped for the field every time they teach them. For all of you couples considering going on a mission - do it. You get to do basically whatever you want for almost as long as you want and you get to do the coolest things ever! We met this couple that is going to Micronesia to canoe through the jungle to locate and GPS the locations of members that are there. They cover several islands and are totally like Indiana Jones! It's so cool! It made me super excited to someday be able to be a senior couple missionary. Also met met this other couple that has already been on 7 missions together! Crazy! They're amazing! We got to hear all about Thomas S. Monson from his daughter Ann Dibb and it was awesome. The BYU mens choir came and sang Christmas songs to us and it was so cool! We also had Elaine S. Dalton come again yesterday and tell us about gifts of the spirit and just trusting in the Lord. It was so powerful! I'm so excited to be out in the world with all the Christmas things going on! I don't know what my assignment will be or what my address will be when I get to Washington. But here is the address to the Mission home and I'll get the mail from there so please please write!

Hermana Elizabeth Probst
Washington-Spokane Mission
820 S. Pines Rd. Ste 101
Spokane Valley, WA 99206

I love you all! Love Herman Probst

Crazy!

Pablo Penalillo said that you mom and dad can call him anytime. Also, have you ordered my bike yet? If you could let the mission office know when you do so that they can pick it up that would be great. Thank you so much for the letters they're awesome!

I'm almost done at the MTC and it's crazy! Also it was the 50th anniversary of the MTC this week. Wow so many milestones. I'm super excited to get out in the field. I think we're all getting a little cabin fever because we've been doing a bunch of DLTs lately Dumb Little Things (sorry Grandpa I tried, but now I know why they do so many).

So Aaron wanted funny stories and mom wanted spiritual ones so I'll do my best: On Saturday we were being especially goofy. I was standing in the hall waiting for my companions who were in the bathroom. I open our classroom door and Elder Sanchez who is sitting on a chair yells "Hermana Probst watch this!" The next thing I know he flings himself back in the chair and he crashes to the floor and the chair goes flying! We were all laughing so hard we were crying! It was so funny! Apparently he was trying to show me that he could lay flat on the chair, but he did it too fast and so now the joke is that Elder Sanchez is head over heals for me. Oops. Story 2: The other night I had a dream that president Brown was showing our district around and giving all these spiritual insights. Suddenly it sounded like somone was snoring and we were all mad at them. Then I realized it wasn't in my dream it was real! I get out of bed and go to the other bunks and I hear H. Collins giggle and say "I have no idea who it is." It was Sister Martina and she sounded just as loud as dad does! I tried saying her name to wake her up and all she did was roll over and keep snoring. It was so funny we didn't know what to do. Eventually she stopped, but it was pretty classic. Story 3: As coordinating sister I have to go to weekly meetings where our floor representatives basically complain about how loud the elders above us are. I usually study or fill in my planner. But finally I remembered that a recent maintenance report I had issued had not been filled so I commenced to tell the branch president of my complaint. I told him that the toilet seats were broken in our bathroom. He didn't understand the problem. I tried to explain to him that the seats move because they're not properly attached. He still didn't understand. Finally turning bright red and the entire room quietly laughing at me I told him that when you needed to use the toilet it made it difficult because when you sit down it slides all over the place which makes it rather difficult to fulfill your purpose of using that toilet seat. He finally understood and everyone was laughing at me. Yep good story.

So the call of the Ziegler has almost been resolved. We have been going to many doctor's appointments with her lately because if they're in Provo we have to go with her and if they're outside of Provo she gets an escort. Unfortunately most of hers have been in Provo. And they don't really tell us when they are they just send us a message that we have to go right then. One day we had 4 appointments in one day! I was really worried that it would mess with our schedules, but the resource teachers have taken special care to work one on one with us so we really haven't missed much and we've gotten really good at studying in waiting rooms. H. Collins and I get to switch off who goes and who stays and whoever stays becomes a solo sister and the elders from the district are her companions. She just discovered that she has ADHD and her hiccups are a genetic tic that is affected by her ADHD and if she keeps her mind occupied they don't happen as much. Can I just say I called it. We had to meet with District President Brady who was Grandma and Grandpa Probsts stake president and sent Brian on down on missions. I think this was a compliment but he said he didn't think they were old enough to have grandkids on missions. He says hi and he thought you were all great.

My back is doing much better and I only have 2 more appointments with Butler. I think I'll miss it. Two of our investigators are getting baptized but one recently told us that she believes the Catholic church is true and the LDS church. We may have to postpone her baptism. We got to see the Christmas Devo and it was awesome! Also we got a promise from President Brown. He promised that if we read the Book of MOrmon for 30 minutes every day our biggest problems in the mission will dissolve and will be fine. Which is good because last week I was really discouraged about my spanish. I felt like I wasn't learning anything and I couldn't speak anything. H. Forsyth took the time talk to me about it and share D&C 98: 1-3 and it just hit me really hard. I have to be patient with the Lord because he has made us promises. I have really learned to rely on the spirit more because we just need to trust and all will work out for the good. We had a really sobering experience on Sunday. We missed our Sunday temple walk because we were giving our branch president the first lesson. When our whole district went outside there were protesters standing at the gates with massive crosses. They were yelling at all the missionaries coming back from their sunday walks and chanting. I never would have thought that would happen here. It made us all realize more realistically the kind of challenges we're facing and how grateful we are to be protected by the Spirit. Our biggest challenge will not just be learning a language but the opposition we will face from the adversary. I am so grateful to be a missionary. We've had a lot of really good bonding experiences as a district this last week. Almost every single person has is our suffering some major opposition. One elder has to be the example to his parents of being a good member because only the kids live the Gospel and the parents don't. Another elder was basically the father of his younger siblings because his dad is a work-aholic. Another elder has basically been completely forgotten by his family and they never really support him or anything. I have learned so much about how strong our generation is and I'm so proud to be a part of it.

I will send pictures when I can but they don't have USB ports on these computers so it might have to wait until I'm in the field. I'll send out my Washington address next week but I can't remember it now

I love you all and know that the Church is the only true church on this earth!

Love you!

Herman Probst

3 Weeks Left!

Hello everyone!

I only have less than 3 weeks left! I'm super excited, but kind of nervous. My Spanish is not that great so I wish I could be better. Hna Forsyth is one of my teachers and she's from Spokane and she's a saint. I don't think she'll ever get married because no one is as good is she is. She's amazing! Anyway she brought someone in who served in Spokane and she told us all about it. Right after we arrive at the airport we'll be sent out contacting for a few hours. That night we'll be at the mission home and receive orientation. The next day we get our trainer and assignments and then we go out and teach. Crazy! I'll be teaching actual investigators in a few weeks! I'm super excited though.

So Thanksgiving was good. We had Elder Russell M. Nelson come speak to us and it ws way good. We made 8,000 survival kits for people in Sudan. Dinner was okay, but i definitely missed the good food I always get especially the pies and Grandma Dinsdale's rolls. For some reason i couldn't stop thinking about them. We all were pretty homesick but it was definitely the worst for me. Pretty much all weekend I was really homesick. But I got letters from Ashley and Dad so that really helped. (This is a hint that letters really do help so you should all write!)

So my back is doing a lot better. I went to pt yesterday and they said my posture has improved significantly and that my back feels so much looser and less crunchy than before. They started me on all these funny strengthening exercises in the office there and they're pretty entertaining. Funny story: So this weekend seemed to last forever because everything was closed on Thursday, Sunday, and half of Saturday. That meant we could only get mail on Friday. But our floor manager person who helps us clean the bathrooms and keep the toilet paper stocked was gone. She left the toilet paper dispensers unlocked so that we could refill them if we needed. The only problem with this is that they randomly fall down. Yes, being the clumsy person I am, the toilet paper dispenser fell off the wall and smacked down right on the bridge of my nose. It was a rather embarassing moment and my nose is still slightly swollen. Moral of the story is: Don't ever trust your toilet paper dispenser.

Mom and Dad: were you able to send my box up to Washington yet? If not could you add lots of pictures of you all and possibly leg warmers? Also i will definitely need a bike but is there a way to get it with a guard over the tire to prevent mud from splashing up?

One of my favorite scriptures is Alma 26: 35 "Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God, for he has all power all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Bein, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name."

I absolutely love being a missionary. It is very hard and difficult at times, but only when things are challenging are they worth it.

I love you all so much!

Herman Probst (That's what Noah called me in one of his emails and it has kind of stuck).

P.S. I only have half an hour a week to read emails so I never have enough time to read Becky's. If someone could just briefly summarize the highlights of her email and send that to me that would be great so I could still keep up with what she's doing. Thanks!