Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hey family!
So much to say so little time!

First off, you are all wondering about me and transfers. But the truth is, I am not surprised. On Wednesday, Sis. Rager was having a bad day and called Mission Pres for an interview. So we went over there a few hours before and everything went smoothly and well. They were out in like 10 min. In the mean time, I was talking with Sis. Miller and I just couldn't help it, I started to cry. So then President asked to interview me...  and in the interview he told me that Sis. Rager and I would not be companions this coming transfer. I have huge mixed feelings about this. A part of me hopes that Its not just because of me and that this is how it is suppose to be for both her and these areas and people. And I try to not let doubts linger. But I do have trust that Pres. Miller asks the Lord about where each of us go and that God won't let him screw up His work. These have been hard transfers, but I have loved them nevertheless, and honestly, the knee issues were not an issue in my mind at all. I love her and She needed to be here for herself and for me and for this area. She has been a strength and I am thankful for her as well as I have learned a lot. I can see how change needed to happen, because we have no one to visit and had no other ways to find new investigators and so forth. I pray for her and I pray for my next companion.

No, I do not know if I will have to get a bike, which, please look at my bank account and make sure that is okay. But it probably will be my last area, seeing my track record, we will see. I would be happy with that. I think either way right now I would be happy.

Ok, so internet, Talked with Bro. Horschel (WML) and he said we could email at his house. he says its Comcast, said something about he has about 50mpg downloading speed but it is consistently at 70pmg...? didn't understand but he said it was good and ask if we wanted Skype or some odd strange new thing called Google hang out??? yeah. Oh, and I will be having one of my thanksgivings at the first phone calls house!

So today was sooo much fun! Last night the ZLs texted and said because of transfers pday would be on Monday(of course messing us all up!) so we went to the tram! It was sooooo beautiful! The top of the Sandias is covered in snow!!!! you remember the winter wonderland trees with snow packed on them! So amazing! We wore Santa hats and hope to get Christmas cards out of them. So much fun! We walked around the closed ski lift with a few skiers and just had a fun time. snowball fights! angles! it was sooo gorgeous and white! We even saw our area! thanks to a very large casino we cover. haha. It was a huge answer to our prayers in so many ways! 1. to come at all! 2, Sis. Ragers snow 3. to find our area even though a fog blocked our way 4 that the sky would clear and in the few hours before, it did! 5 no storm!  and just more. it was a huge blessing!

So Amberly, what is this with sending Sis. Rager a 3 page letter (which she did open) and not me!!!! huh????? haha, we both loved the construction paper letter! It was way cute! And Sis. Rager will write you. She has seen Merlin 5 and supposedly is excited to write you although I refused to read your spoilers :)

Hmm thanksgiving plans, So far we have 2 dinners we are for sure going to and we really hope to find more members to stop by and see but besides that, I'm not really sure. The members said we could request anything, but when I asked for pumpkin pie they said that was the one thing their family does not do.  :( but that's okay. others will of course have it!

Haha, so y'all saw our pics up on the NMAM Facebook page? that is cool. And yeah, Sis. Dennis doesn't think we get enough mail from our ENTIRE family so she wanted to send out a loud message :) I love her! she is soo funny!

This last Saturday was a lot of fun, as we were invited to go to 2 thanksgiving parties at the Beehive house(the assisted living home and it was sooo much fun! When we were invited, the staff told us that we were a part of these peoples lives and they love to have you there and to introduce you to there family and friends, who they tell about you to. And you know what, its true and we were so thankful for that opportunity to really see that. They were so funny and just happy to see us! Including the staff. Its funny to feel at home there. I really do love it a lot. 

Okay, so the member squealed and told you I was trunkie. Shameful. haha, so as I told Sis. Rager last night, I'm really trunkie to like see my family, get to watch movies, and sing whatever songs I want, but I'm not homesick. I'm not longing for these things so bad that I can't function or push these thoughts away. I am happy here and if I could come up with some way to extend my mission, with getting to talk and see y'all all the time, i'd be perfectly good. Nah, i'm not trunkie. In fact, I don't even want to think about the Christmas call home cause that may make me homesick. But I am happy and content here, and as President promised me this week, I will find even more contentment with where my mission is by the end of next transfer.

i love you!!!!! i love you happy thanksgiving!

Short Letter

Hey family,

How are you today?
To start off, Sister Rager had her doctor's appointment yesterday and she really thought that she was going to be sent home. But the doctor gave her a cortisone shot and said that that was the last possible thing that they could do before surgery so if it doesn't work, she will be going home at the end of next transfer. Hopefully it will, even just enough to get her through. Thank you my family for all of your sweet prayers for her. She really does need a miracle.

Something cool this week was being able to teach a family of 5. Amberly you are going to love this! One of the girl's name's is Emrise, just like Merlin's magical name! How awesome is that! They are a great family, just really busy and forgetful. And they have a strong religious background of the past. The mom and one kid grew up very catholic and stopped attending when they said that the "catholic guilt" was too much. I think that was very sad and we tried to teach they about how God is loving and although he wants them to be better, but doesn't want guilt to make us feel worthless. The lesson was hectic and we even got to teach a Jehovah's Witness for a while.

You keep asking me about my Christmas wish list, and most of it is stuff I want when I get home besides stuff I will just need like deodorant and blah, there is a massage ( i needed that 14 months ago!)  car, laptop, hmmm money for clothes,... umm I know I have a big list on the whiteboard...

Last week we went to the Aquarium and it was sooo much fun! we got to touch stingray (my fav fish) and see lots and lots of cool fish. we even stayed to see them feed the turtles and stingrays and that stuff. it was a lot more fun that an aquarium sounds. I still think I prefer the zoos but I really liked this. there was also a really big nature bio park with the ticket and that was beautiful. we went in the green house and it was actually humid! and green! felt like a spring at home.

We are just trying to stay busy and find new things to do. Sometimes I feel like Sis. Ragers mom telling her we need to go home and ice her knee. its odd and I don't like doing it.

Sorry this is short today! I love y'all! have an awesome day! we have stake conference this Sunday :)

Love love love! Elizabeth! Sister McShane

Pdays now on Tuesdays

Dear Family!

How are you! Okay, so confession, my comp added up how many days I have left. That is all I will say about that :(

This week has been good. As I've told you, Pdays are now on Tuesdays so that is really weird. and Weekly planning days are now on Mondays. So our weeks are very different. As many missionaries have said, on Monday we will be planning what we will be doing on Tuesday. :) but that is just how it goes!

My comp is still in tons of pain. On the pain scale of 1-10 she is regularly at a 7-10+. But she doesn't just tell me that so I have to ask her how she is doing a lot. I'm afraid we may be inside much of this week. :( But I am very thankful to be here with her. The other night was really had, and I was very thankful that I was just able to make her smile as I just did Silly little things. and Trent! She drew me my warrior cat! Her name is Foxlight of Thunderclan. Soo awesome! She is way pretty black and white. We also checked out the old testament dvds at the church library and have been watching them. Some are really good and some are SOOOO 90s.

This week, we had exchanges, and I HATE exchanges. I was going to another area (canyon heights) with sis. Chatwin and sis. Johnson and then my comp stayed here with someone else. But I def. know this exchange was inspired. For some reason, Sis. Johnson was able to open up to me and the three of us were just really able to help each other. It was great knowing that I was needed to be with them that day. They are amazing missionaries.

It has been great reading your letters this week. I love the work and it is really fun to hear about what is going on at home. I'm super happy you loved the picture Amberly, I knew you would! hahaha. The house sounds great. And its incredible to hear how people can truly be inspired as they teach RS and priesthood. I cant believe that I have been readmitted into BYUI for the Spring semester. that is truly crazy!

A sad thing that happened, is that we finally had to pass off Ruth and Fredrick over to the elders in the ward. And it happened on exchanges too! Its funny though, because in gospel principles, we usually sit on the opposite side of the room (and are forbidden to make comments :( ) But The teacher will ask a question and Ruth will raise her hand and answer it better than half the people in the class would have. So you have the elders on one side of the room gloating that they get to teach these amazing people and us glaring and shaking our heads that they took the people we love. haha, its just fun, Its been great serving in the same ward as the elders.

Transfers come up 2 days before thanksgiving and we are not sure what to expect. Any guesses?

I love you all! Love Sister McShane

Elizabeth

Have a fun happy day
!

Special Letter

Hey family,

Well, I am going to start this off on a spiritual note. This last week, I fought all week, but through the strength of the spirit I finally texted the Elders and asked for a blessing.  But with where people live, and who I wanted to give it, I didn't know how to set it up and asked for suggestions. Heavenly Father worked miracles as the next text from the Elders was a perfect plan to set it all up.

In the blessing, I was told and blessed with things that I did not expect and things I did not even realize I was thinking about. The first that I will say is that I was told that I was being watched from the other side of the veil. I was specifically told that My grandparents love me. And then I was even more specifically told that my grandpa loves me. It is just a sort of warm comfort to me to know that they still live and that they still love me. We are never as a lone as we feel that we are.

Now, I have seen that many of my blessings come in advance of when I need them. And another part I wanted to share was about my family, aka. you. I was told that the affairs back home would be okay. That my family and friends are safe and that all is well at home. That I don't need to worry. Of course, when you hear "don't worry" you instantly ask "why? Do I need to worry? what is up? I didn't think I was worrying before" But it is okay. I do not know what each of you at home are going through. I don't know everything that is hard, but I do know that everything is going to be okay and that is enough. I love and trust each one of you. I know that you will make the right choices, and will have bumps in the road. but that is okay. Things may be coming up soon at home, but Heavenly Father has promised me that you will be okay. I know you will be okay. I have that trust in God.

I miss each of you like crazy. Especially as the holiday season creeps in. I'm torn between I want it to come and I don't ever want it to come. But that is okay. All is good. And I am happy.

I don't know when "the moment" happened when I finally loved my mission. When I think about teaching the plan of salvation to Mike tonight and I get sooo excited and have such a love for it, but I do. And it is the greatest feeling ever.

I'm glad y'all had an awesome Halloween, minus the sick parts. Amberly and Trent y'all look great! so does the yard!  our president changed the rule of going in early, so we were required to be careful what we did, but make it productive. we were told the best time to catch people at home is on holidays when families are together... yeah... We tried to see a few active families but of course they were out so we gave candy and mormon.org cards away and finished weekly planning.

This week, we went into the mission office to look for mail, and the president was there and called us in his office to ask us a question about if we were new missionaries, what would we be most afraid of in contacting. ugh. I love president. but I sure love him a lot more from a distance.

hahaha. (that was off due to Elder Brisco. had to give him the credit)

This week has been full of little miracles. Like a woman named Ruth, who after our first lesson, read 20+ pages of the BoM,  found the 1hr long Joseph Smith movie and watched it, and taught us about the tablets and how Moroni came to Joseph Smith and more. wow! She was amazing! And then getting to teach her husband who grew up Native American and hearing him speak of the great spirit. Wow! I got to give him chapters in the BoM with Ammon teaching King Lamonhi about how that Great Spirit is God. That was cool! When ever we get to teach someone with that history I just marvel at it! it is incredible!

Another one was how we had no money, no food in our pantry (we had had it for lunch), and no dinner. we had prayed for a meal or for just something and 2 hours before dinner at 5, we had a member out with us who randomly asked us if she could feed us. It was great! I love her sooo much! It was the best spaghetti we had ever had.  And that same member, Sister Lee, I love her sooo much! She is incredible and we just had a lot of fun as we worked. It was her first time with the missionaries and we got to answer those silly "can missionaries get haircuts" questions and it was just fun. It really does brighten our day when we get members out with us!

I love you all! Be happy and Smile! God is watching over you!