Happy Easter!!

HAPPY EASTER!

 

Training is going really good so far. I love my companion. We have a lot of fun. She has already invited her first person to be baptized and she is a really good teacher. It is fun getting to help her out, although it is harder, because I am more responsible for pushing myself and I play a big part in "rescue"ing her in difficult situations. It is fun to help her though, in studies. And she is soo willing to do whatever it takes to be a missionary. She hates rules, but obeys them because it is right. She is crazy though. I love Sister Tompkins. Yesterday she was sick, and we had to miss church, but we were able to go to a missionary Easter Fireside put on by the stake. It was really great for her to meet more people and see potential investigators that had been invited by the members.

 

Our first teaching opportunity came on her first day here. We had gotten a lot of missionary things accomplished and then went to dinner. 30 min in, Sis. A's phone rang. Her husband (who just tried out for the NFL- look up Adolfo) had called to tell her that he was bringing two potential investigators to dinner in 5 min. And they wanted to hear the first lesson! AHHHH! It went really well, but was funny because I've never had to teach most of the lesson like that (no prep time or anything for her) But the people really loved what they heard and I'm excited to teach them again after spring break. They seem like great people.

 

We also taught a Less active member with foster daughters. It was a very powerful lesson on the atonement. I could just feel so much love for these girls and what they have gone through. They are truly so amazing, and we hope that they will learn to apply the atonement into their lives. Even the simplest basics of God is our Loving Heavenly Father could have such a huge impact on there lives, if they would let it.

 

It is really funny to see her and then think of myself when I first came out. My poor trainer. I think my companion is just starting to really learn that missionaries are always tired.

 

This Thursday, I will be driving the sisters down to El Paso for another meeting.  Fun to be in Texas, but El Paso doesn't look much like TX. We won't be going far in. Only to the Redd chapel.

 

HAPPY EASTER!!! EVERYONE! REMEMBER THERE WOULD BE NO CHRISTMAS WITHOUT EASTER! READ THE ACCOUNT IN 3 NEPHI WHEN HE COMES TO THE AMERICAS I JUST DID AND I LOVE IT YOU WILL TOO

 

 

I'm a Trainer!!

Monday Letter:

 

First off, mom probably already told you, but starting tomorrow I will be training a brand new missionary straight from the MTC. We have 18 sisters coming out this transfer. Basically, this means that almost every sister in the mission will be training this transfer. Then, next transfer we will be getting 8 new sisters. With that, some of the sisters will be out for 6wks (wont be able to finish the 12 week new missionary program) and start training someone else while other sisters will be given 2 new sisters. EKKKKK! Crazy huh! We have more sisters coming out than elders by far and they have opened many new areas.

 

I was in EL PASO TX on Friday

 

Because I'm training, I think I will bring the new sister to the library tomorrow afternoon to email home and her family. I should be back on then./

 

I don't have much time because we are exchanging pictures, But I wanted to tell Trent and Amberly that I used parts of both of there talks in my Sacrament meeting talk on Sunday. Thanks for doing part of my work for me :) hehe. Part of church we talked about the atonement and then about Forgiveness for ourselves and for others. but what do we do with that forgiveness when you still can not trust is the question?

 

So I wanted to request a few things :)

- my pedometer to track how far we walk.

- I really need the D&C Study Videos (has legacy, prophet of the restoration and ...)

- I also really need the Mormon Messages Videos #1 and #2

- And I'd really like a DvD of some of the other Mormon Messages ( Like the one of Ester of Courage! WOW!, a few mormon.org profile videos and a LOT of the Bible Story videos)

 

Sorry, I guess I need these things because of the messages they share. I've had companions who have had these and they really help. Now, I have a feeling we won't have them and I love them! Please get them to me ASAP or let me know if you cant, because then I'll order them or get them at the temple trip. PLEASE

 

I am sorry this letter is soo short today, with everything going on. I want y'all to know that I love ALL of y'all. Y'all are all so special. Always search out what heavenly Father would have you do. All will be well if we rely upon him in times of trials. Truly, we can do nothing of ourselves, but With Jesus Christ all things are possible.  I love you tons. And I will hopefully chat with y'all tomorrow.

Tuesday Letter:

 

Hey family!

 

I can't believe I am a trainer. I don't know anything. This will be a lot of fun.

Her name is Sister Tompkins and she is 20 years old. She was at the MTC for 10 days and I am very excited to get to know her better.

It is weird not being in a trio anymore, but I don't think the full impact of it has fully hit. its been hard saying goodbye to both of them. Its also sad, because of all my companions I probably know my trainer the most because I was with her the longest.

 

Oh, something that I forgot to tell y'all is that I drove half of last transfer and now I am driving again. One of the days, I drove 1.5 hours to Alamogordo and then an hour back. I am thinking that we may have to do that again on Friday.

 

The heat has really been starting to hit the area. On Saturday, we spent all day walking, we only drove 3 miles, and that was so that we wouldn't be late to our dinner appointment. We all got burned, and you can bet we will not be doing more walking in the noon day sun than we have to. We were able to talk to quite a few people though and it was nice with the breeze.

 

Tonight's plans are to have dinner at 5 (I hope! The family has not responded to our message yet :/ ... Wait! yep, they just did and we are good), with that to share a dinner message, and then we have an active member lesson at 6:30 tonight. After that, I hope we have some time to try and contact some former investigators and tract a few houses, before we come back in so Sister Tompkin can unpack and feel more at home.

 

This morning was inspired. Because of transfers we had Sister Reedy stay the night with us. (She had been in the area previously) She had been teaching a part member family a few months ago, before she left. Then sickness and other things came up in this families lives and we had to drop the family for our teaching pool. This morning, we went over since she was here and found out that the nonmember part of the family still wanted us to keep coming over. It was a miracle! I am so excited to be able to teach them. We definitely went at the right moment, when everything seemed to be falling to pieces

 

 

I love y'all so much! I pray for your happiness and for your knowledge of the gospel to increase and grow everyday.

Happy Spring Break!

Hello Family! Happy Spring Break in Katy! (Yes, I still say Katy, not Brookshire) I'm not sure when the kids here have spring break.

 

This week has been great! I think that a great big finale of it all was the baptism of Katie on Saturday. It was a beautiful service with the Spirit being so strong. I think that my favorite part was when Katy bore her testimony. What really stood out to me was when she said that she knew without any doubt that this was exactly what she was suppose to do. It was so powerful and had so much sweet strength in it. I know that she had many people trying to persuade her other ways, but with prayer and faith, she is now on the straight and narrow path to live with God one day. I am so excited for her, I love her so much. She just glows.

 

To add upon the baptism, we had another Investigator come to the baptism with a member family. We had just started teaching Ruby this week when we had a suggestion to stop by this families home one night. She has really gone through a lot in her life, but through the atonement of Jesus Christ I know that she can overcome all things. After the baptism, we had stopped by to see her again. We were able to relate Alma's experience of being in the gall of bitterness and how he was able to exercise the atonement to feel peace in his heart and mind. I know that Jesus Christ suffered all of our pains, that we may rely upon him to lift us up when we are low. We were able to invite Ruby to be baptized on April 13 and she said yes! I am so excited for her to learn more about the gospel and its importance in her life!~

 

We also taught a mission prep class this week about Australia and teaching people who do not believe in God. It was great. We shared about Ammon teaching King Lamonhi's father. It is amazing how the scriptures are full of missionary work. WE also made Pavlova from Austraila! it was good. It was fun teaching in a classroom again. We even had a kid try Vegimite- which tastes weird and reminds me of soy sauce. buts its good.

 

This week, I received a blessing and there is one line that has stood out to me. It said that his path was prepared for me. It struck me that Heavenly Father has not only prepared me for the path, but the path for me as well. I think that it is remarkable that Heavenly Father knows us so well, that he has truly prepared what I will be going through. It is more than making me strong enough to face the challenges ahead, but making the challenges exactly what I need to go through.

 

Alright, just to make everyone laugh, I'm giving an 8 min. talk in sacrament meeting this week. I know haha. I guess I had to join Trent and Amberly in there talks. So that means mom and dad are up next! hehe.

 

We also taught a less active man named Michael this week. It was funny bc when we came over he grabbed his scriptures and everything. What I liked about our meeting was that he understood that he was less active. And with that, we were able to be bold with him and tell him that he knew what he needed to do to be happy again. And that it was now down to his choice and AGENCY (See Trent) whether or not to partake of that which is good. WE compared it to an hour glass. There is only one straight, narrow, small gap for the sand to go through, but once it does, there are millions of blessings awaiting the other end.

 

I LOVE YALL SOOOOO MUCH

Pictures!!

February Zone Conference

P Day at White Sands New Mexico

Baptism of Katia

P Day at White Sands 

Peace, Peace Be Still

Dear Family!

Hello! How are y'all doing this week? We had a good, busy week with many appointments and things going on. We went on splits, had exchanges with the Alamogordo sisters, and had a really good Zone Conference Meeting with President. We also have a baptism this week for a girl named Katie that we are all excited for.

Something fun that I got to do was to pick pecans (from the ground) for Katie's family. It was great because 1. I'd never done that before, 2. it was service, 3 it was with Katie and 4. Because her mom was able to ask us some heartfelt questions about Mormons. It was a great setting to get to talk about the church and help out. I know that we did a lot of good there that day and we are excited to be able to go back again this week for more. OH, 5 because the chickens are kept with the trees, so I got to pet a bunch of them and 6. We got freshly chopped pecans AND orange and green chicken eggs! That's pretty cool!

I think it was yesterday that I realized that I have been out almost 7 months. Weird huh? (for the record, I'm counting how many days I've been out, NOT how long I have left) Its nice because I know better how things work together mission-wise. However, I still know absolutely nothing and always working to grow and continue with that. The last 6 months. the mission has been stressing how to become a master teacher. Ironic? Slightly, but it has really helped me out.

Wanna play a game at dinner?

Relate the following to the atonement of Christ

A blue fire hydrant

Street Signs

glasses

fingernail polish

have fun!

I received a letter from Isabella this week!It was the best she simply shared her testimony and updated me on the ward. I love her sooo much. I also got some great mail from my friends that I will try my best to write back today! (I'm usually really good at replying)

I am very excited because we are now teaching a woman named Kathy who has gone through a lot. She has a lot of faith but felt disfellowshiped and no spirit in other churches. After searching, she found our church in the directory and couldn't let it go. She went a few times to a different ward and has just recently moved in with a member here. She is sooo prepared and ready, I just hope that she will accept the gospel into her life.

Mom- yeah, thanks for sending the contacts soon! oh, and remember transfers are on march 19th OH, and i think its way funny how y'all spell "Las Cruces" Wrong :) hehe, "e" not "a" I can tell my friends got the address from y'all

Trent- I'm excited to read your letter! haha, i knew you'd get blinder!

Dad- I'm happy your better! and thank you for everything that you are doing for me!

Amberly! I sent you a good sized email today! Especially cause your at school when I am on! and not like Trent who texts me anyway :) I love you very much!

I pray for all of you everyday! I love y'all soooo much!

February 25, 2013

How is everyone doing?

My companions and I have truly loved the box. We have had way too many goodies and I have just loved looking at the pictures.

Trent- Mom and Dad are so very proud about your talk on Sunday. They say that you did an amazing job. I am so proud of you too. You are great. I love you so much I can't wait to get a copy of it! I'm secretly lucky that i haven't had to talk in front of really big crowds. Quick, knock on wood!

Amberly- Mom and Dad said that you made a basket on the buzzer! How exciting is that! You are growing up way tooo much! I teach people who are 10 and i think there is no way Amberly is this grown up now. nope. not at all :)

Dad I hope you get better soon!

I have to admit that I'm not quite sure what I want to say today. We had a good week. On Tuesday, our zone fasted to find new families to teach. It was wonderful in that we received 3 referrals all in that same day. Quite a miracle!

We have a girl preparing to be baptised on March 9th that I am very excited for. She loves everything in the church.

Getting to go to church this week was fun. I love getting to see all the new faces and getting to know everyone. We actually had to go into primary classes 3 times because the teachers wanted help with their lessons from "missionaries" It was fun. Why does everyone always get a kick out of the fact that we eat lunch during church :)

It was kinda fun to get to go to young women's this week. I kept thinking about what y'all were doing in Katy Mills. It was a good lesson in the Picaho ward with a very small group of girls. It was really funny because I kept thinking, I definitely am not (myself) in young women's anymore.

A miracle that we had this week occurred when we ate at a Thai Restaurant with a member. When it came time to pay the bill, the waitress came up to us and told that the bill had already been picked up. It was a miracle because it was just a little act of kindness from a unnamed stranger.

Recently, we have been doing a lot of tracting ideas. when the weather is its coldest. But the other night, I met a man that I really admire. He was outside putting things in his truck when we came up to visit with him. He said that he had been to a few churches but now he just practices his own faith in God. It was evident that he had been searching for God in the past, but without any luck, he had put it on the back burner. I admire him for talking with us and for accepting a BoM. I pray that he will accept our invitation to read from it and to continue the search to fill the void that he has been missing. I also admire him for standing out in the cold, in socks with us as i was shivering. Hey, sharing and learning of the gospel is a marvelous work and a wonder.

We also taught a woman who had gone less active because of her trials. She'd ask why me and why now? What I truly admire about her is that after some time away from the church, she has started to realize that God does love her, that she agreed to her trials, and that although things do not happen the way she wants them to, God still answers her prayers. I love her faith and her desire to have the spirit in her heart again. She knows that it will be hard to come back to church again, but after this little hiccup, all will be OK.

My companions and I have been talking about what would make us fall away from the truth, and the answer of "nothing" is illogical without actions. I know that when we keep to the commandments, and keep to doing the little things in life, then, can nothing stand in our way. It does not mean that we won't have trails, but that our trails will not over come us with determination to follow the Savior in faith.

I have also began to really tell the difference between people who are not members and people who are at heart. They way they face trials is so different. The members at heart have strength and hope in the atonement. In the fact that through the atonement of Jesus Christ, all that is wrong in this world will be made right. It is also true that the spirit is already there in there home when we come in. It is amazing to teach in a members home because we are not always bringing the spirit in with us, but rather magnifying the spirit that is already there.

Mom- Oh, yes, we heard about the missions! SO cool! Also, our new mission prs. in July will be..... President and Sister Miller! :) just, a different set of Millers... not confusing right :) I'm really excited for it,

Mom- bacon, sausage and lots of it.

 

Ward Council is soooo weird. its like knowing the organization of the church and participating in it. sooo odd.

I LOVE Y'ALL SOOOO MUCH!!!!! I pray for you everyday

2/19/13

Hey 1 year till I come home! Exactly! Weird.

Alright, so y'all keep telling me to be good and have fun with my companion, but my question is which one? :) I am serving with Sister Davidson (Wyoming) and Sister Smith(Australia, Melbourne- also a temple square sister here for her last transfer proselyting) and they are awesome! It is so strange to be in a new area with 2 sisters rather than one. I really like the change honestly. We have a lot of fun! I love the area and it is soooo much warmer down here! no chance of snow for sure. The sisters I am with pink washed this area last transfer. It is very nice to be with them because although they do know they area, they are still learning everything too. I have a little catch up to do but that's it.

Ok, so before I tell you of all the exciting stuff, I have one bit of sad news. Do you remember my investigator named Charles? Black man with a small Afro and a bit older (60s) He gave me the garlic that I sent home for Christmas? Well, a few weeks ago he had a stoke. I found out on Thursday that Charles had passed away this last week. Its been a bit hard to think about, because I love him sooo much and you don't really think about those types of things happening in the mission. But I am sooo thankful, because the day he had a stroke, was the same day that we had ramdonly decided to stop by. I was able to truly testify of the Church and truly explain how much I loved him, not because I wanted him to get "dunked- his words" but because I knew it was true and I loved him so much that I wanted it for him too. I love him sooo much. I am so happy and have comfort in knowing that he is now an investigator with his wife in the Spirit World.

:) This area is very different in that we have a very small teaching pool that we are working to build up. We had so many people in our last area, that the wards were split and I hope to eventually see that here too. I am in the Picacho and Dona Anna Wards. I loved getting to go to church with y'all this week. That was really funny. I loved Elder Richard G. Scotts talk funny enough. But I think it was because I was thinking about people in my last area that really needed to hear it. Its also different because I have to wait another week to see the ward. Oh, this transfer is only 5 weeks due to changes at the MTC.

I also wanted to tell y'all about the best P-day ever! Our zone went to White Sands and played ultimate Frisbee/football and then went sledding on the sand. I loved it so much. We have a great zone with a lot of hard working missionaries. We have some good pictures that I am really excited about.

Also, I wanted to tell y'all that for some reason I really do think that Eyn will be able to serve a mission in the next 5 years. Im not sure why, but I do. It is a hope that I have in my heart. I pray for him all of the time. I love him a lot.

I got your package! Most especially the hugs! They made me smile! except the hugs are all MUCH bigger than mine! (except Amberly's hehehe)They were the best ever! haha, and the pictures I loved!

Oh, I wanted to tell y'all, DO you remember the Tennis Shoe Series? Well, his mom is a member and we are going over there to teach her and share things with her! We actually accidentally tracted into her. It was awesome to get to meet her! strange huh? Also found out, that the story is based from something that happened to him in the caves in Wyoming. Sounded like he dreamed the stories up, literally.

We have also been doing service activities. We have done some in the nursing home and then today we did some at a soup kitchen. Both are really fun. I loved the soup kitchen (did with the stake) and getting to prepare the food. I made a million sandwiches today. Lets just say that for lunch today, I did NOT come home and make a sandwich. Oh, Sister Smith is vegetarian. The other day, I bought some sandwich meat and it was the best thing in the world! I had no idea i would miss it so much just after a few days!

I received a blessing the other night and I wanted to tell y'all a bit of it. I received a special blessing on my family. That they would be in good health. and many more. I want y'all to know that I love y'all tons! Ya'll are the best in the world. I am happy whenever y'all do well and especially as y'all recognize the blessings of Christ in your life. Ya'll are the best ever!

Oh, Kenzie sent me a package!!! had to add that!

Trent- I am happy you get to go to seminary again! That is awesome. it sounds like you had a great bball year

Amberly- I hope that you foot gets better! And you are trying to read books by Gail Carson Levine (yeah, i remember her name! since 5th grade) i love those books. I hope you and mom get to read Ella Enchanted together. This will be the first year I haven't read it since 5th grade. i like it that much. it is very funny,

Mom- these pictures are awesome. it looks like y'all had a lot of fun. My comps saw pictures of me and you and kept saying we looked a lot alike. weird huh? Hope your freezer is epic! And thanks for telling my friends about the change of address I am sooooo excited to make everything and your card is sooo sweet. I save everything that i get.

Dad- What 2 memory cards? I only got one? I felt like I was IN priesthood session too. Did you notice how all the couples got closer and held hands during his? And then when Elder Eyring talked it was like "ok, moment over" :)

Super Special Shout Out to Lauren Riggs!!!!!!!! Write me or give me your address!!!!! I have stuff to tell you about! I miss you tons, gal. We need to catch up!

I LOVE MY FAMILY!!!! Y'ALL ARE THE BEST!