Christmas and Happy New Year! :)

Aloha!!

No, I'm not in Hawaii, but tomorrow evening our ward is having a HUGE luau for members and non-members to welcome in the New Year, make a bond within the ward, and find more people who are open and ready for the gospel.  So my mind is kind of in that mind-set right now :)

Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope it was a wonderful and heat-warming day for all of you!  I had an amazing day!  Of course the best part was being able to talk with my family and see them via skype.  What a happy bunch they were! :)  I didn't get to open any packages from home that day because they were all delayed from the storm in Texas and being forwarded to my new address, but I got the best gift from home I could ask for - being able to see my family and feel of their love for me and our Savior.  Oh it was so happy, and I didn't cry until my Mom asked me to share my testimony....then it all came out :)
The rest of the day, as well as Christmas Eve, was filled with service and love.  We raked leaves, sang songs (lots of songs!), got to deliver some gifts to a less-active, and visited many people.  The members we spent time with made us feel right at home and showed us a lot of love.  It was such a happy time, I can't even describe it!  I didn't need the physical gifts to have a happy day.  It was happy because I was loving people and being loved by them.

Then our "white" part of Christmas came yesterday, on Sunday.  [Our wonderful investigator] was baptized.  He was so happy and just smiling the whole time.  It was a happy time for me, but Sister Benjamin and I were talking about how it's not the baptism that's most memorable.  As I look back over the time I've been out here, and the people I've been able to help guide to the waters of baptism, it's not the actual baptism that sticks out in my mind.  The moments that stand out are the ones when you could see that they understood what you were teaching them, when they overcame habits or challenges that they had, when they chose to move forward with faith even though there were reasons they could have doubted or feared.  Those are the moments we remember. :)

Seeing lives change is the greatest blessing. :)  As we start a new year, it is natural to think about change - the changes we want to make.  I want to invite you to look back and see the changes you have made this year and before.  How far have you come on your journey?  How have you grown?  Whose lives have you been able to influence?  Look for those good changes you have made and then decide on a change you want to work on next.  I just had interviews with my mission president today, so I had the opportunity to reflect and then look forward.  I know that the Lord "gives the increase" as we chose to work with Him. (1 Corithians 3:6-7)  He has given us the invitation to "come, and let us reason together" (Isaiah 53:3-5)  He is patient and willing to work WITH us.  Are we willing to work WITH Him?

I love this gospel and know that it is true.  I know my Savior lives, and I love Him so much.  I know He loves us.  He loves loves loves us.  I hope you can feel that.  If not, pray to your Heavenly Father with all of your heart and I know He will surround you with his loving embrace and fill your heart.  I hope you all have a wonderful week as we welcome in a new year!

May THE force be with you all!  Love you!

Merry Christmas!! :)

Merry Christmas Ya'll!!

I can't believe Christmas is in 2 days...where did time go??  This last week, my first in Shreveport, has been great!  I'm still learning the area and getting to know who people are, but I do love it here.  I wanted to share a couple of fun things that I forgot to share in my last email.  First one is that there are 4 sets of missionaries in this ward....Wow!  That's amazing!  There are 2 sets of sisters and 2 sets of elders (8 total missionaries).  The other thing is that my district leaders name is Elder Jones.  Haha kind of funny and ironic.  It also makes it easier on the members to remember my name. :)  I'm not sure if we're related or not, but it's not closely.  I'll have to get more detail from him sometime to try to figure it out.  So that's kind of fun!

Right now Sister Benjamin and I are teaching [a man], and he is going to be baptized this Sunday.  He is such a sweet, simple, humble man.  Sister Benjamin and I had a sweet experience with him last night.  We went to visit him and he seemed not as perky as usual.  After a few minutes he said his tooth was bothering him.  I asked if we could then start with a prayer and he asked me to say it.  I felt so much love for him as I prayed.  I could feel the Holy Ghost working through me and guiding my words.  I asked that his pain would go away so that he could focus and learn what he needed to so he could prepare for his baptism.  After the prayer we started on our lesson.  A few minutes into it [this sweet man] started telling us all of the blessings he's received since the missionaries started meeting with him a few months ago.  He said after the prayer that his pain went away.  He got all excited and chipper!  He was so happy!  We talked about tithing and showed him how to figure out how to pay 10 percent and he was so excited that he knew how to pay tithing!  I've never seen anyone so excited!  I loved it!  Haha. :)

It was such a tender mercy and faith building experience for me.  Miracles do still happen, and they are often through small and simple things and people.  The Lord truly does bless us when we are obedient, when we are striving to be obedient, when obedience is our quest.  I know that the blessings do come.  The Lord has promised us that over and over again.

I want to share a quote from a fellow sister missionary.  I don't know who she is because the quote came in a story my mission president sent out.  He has started emailing us different stories from missionaries in the mission - real experiences that they are having right now in our mission.  He replaces the names with fake ones for privacy, so I'm not sure who said this, but I really liked it because it explains how I feel.  She said:

"Being a missionary doesn't mean giving away a year and half of your life to serve the Lord. What it really is, if taken the right way, is the Lord giving you a year and a half to learn and grown so much! It is truly a gift to us and not a service we render."

That is how I feel.  The past 6 months has been such a gift to me.  I have learned so much and grown so much.  I feel more prepared and I have met some more of my Heavenly Father's children and love them.  I've learned how to love, how to serve, how to be an example.  I've learned how to learn, how to act, how to talk.  I've learned what love is, what faith is, what hope is.  I've learned more about who my Savior is and what He did for me.  Words can't describe what I've learned because I haven't just gained knowledge.  Those things are in my heart.

My dear friends and family, I know that our Savior Jesus Christ lives.  I feel it.  He is the season, and we are the reason - the reason He came and bore the pains and afflictions that He did.  He loves you.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!  May it be filled with light and with Christ!  Love you all!

Yes, I'm alive and well! :)

Hello everyone!

Yes, I'm alive!  And the big news, I'm no longer in Florence, Mississippi.  That is why I haven't been able to email until today.  Tuesday I was privileged to drive 3 other sisters and myself the 3.5 hours to Shreveport, LA!  Yep, that is my new area!  Normally we would ride on the transfer van, but we got lucky and got to drive in a nice 2014 car to Shreveport.  Another sister was asked to drive, but she wasn't comfortable driving that far since she hasn't driven the past 10 months.  I've been driving all the time in Florence and none of the other sisters wanted to drive, so I did.  I LOVED it!  Yes, I've decided I love road trips, and I love driving them!  So that meant I got to drive over the Mississippi River!  It was beautiful and we all had a lot of fun.  Sister Meek also got transferred and rode in the car with me because she is going to Texarkana, Texas!

My new address is:
215 Sand Beach Blvd. #2408
Shreveport, LA 71105

So this last weekend was very bitter sweet as we said goodbye to ward members, investigators, and our fellow sisters, Sister Walker and Sister Ray, who are staying in Florence.  I will miss those girls and all of the people in Florence.  I love them so much and am so grateful that I got to serve there for so long.  It is truly amazing to look back and see how much that ward has grown and where it's headed.  I'm so excited for that area!  Sister Walker and Sister Ray along with their new companions will be AWESOME, as well as the elders.

Even though a part of my heart will always be in the Florence Ward, it felt like it was my time to move to a new area, and Shreveport feels right.  It's great here.  I already love it.  They are so blessed to have TONS of stores - food, clothes, everything.  It's got way more than Florence!

I'm in a four-some apartment again, which I don't think is any coincindence.  And I love the girls!  One of them is one that rode with me in the car - Sister Sellers.  She is companions with Sister Valdez.  My companion is Sister Benjamin.  She is a taller girl (still shorter than me, but not by much), with pretty red hair.  She is from Orange county California, but I'm not sure of the exact town.  She has been out 2 transfers (3 months) and has been in Shreveport that whole time.  She is a lot like me - more reserved - and is a lot of fun.  I'll send a picture we took last night in our color coordinating outfits (not intentional, but it was fun).  We both look a little tired, but it's because it was a good hard-working day. :)

So I didn't get to email Tuesday because we didn't get to the library in time before it closed, and then our Wednesday was already filled up with appointments and meetings, so this morning was the soonest I could do it.  So sorry for the wait!  I'm doing great though!

It's amazing to look back and see how much I have changed too.  Today is my 6 month mark, and I can't believe it's been that long.  I have changed and grown, but it has definitely been a little at a time.  I couldn't see the change that much, but over time I can see the small changes that truly are refining me.  I feel so much more prepared to be a mother and to live the rest of my life.  I don't know how to express it, but for all of you who are of mission age, if you have not considered going on a mission, I would strongly encourage and invite you to consider it with your Heavenly Father.  It's hard to describe how it happens, but the mission does change you and prepare you.

I am so grateful for my mission.  I've been working hard, wanting to be able to with my whole heart that I love my mission and am so grateful for it.  I feel that I can honestly say that at this point.  I know that if my mission were to end right now, life would be 10 times better than if I hadn't gone.  I know that our Savior lives.  He loves us.  In fact, He loves us more than He loves our comfort and pleasure.  He will lead us through the refiners fire to purify and strengthen us, if we will let Him.  But it's up to us to make the change.  Are we willing?

I've realized that life gets to the point where we have to choose completely on our own to do more, meaning, will we stay comfortable with where we're at and what we've been able to change?  Or will we continue to press forward and improve?

My dear family and friends, I love you all so much.  I love this gospel and I love my Savior and Heavenly Father.  May we each choose to act, to make a change, to be the change.

May THE force be with you all this week!

Zone Conference and Elder Zwick!

Hello!

This last week we had a couple of super powerful days with Zone Conference on Thursday and a visit from Elder Zwick of the Seventy on Friday!  Zone Conference was actually 2 zones and we had a really good time, especially since it was Christmas themed.  We had a $5 gift exchange...actually it was more of a battle.  They put all of the presents in the middle, passed around 2 pie tins with 2 dice in each, and each time someone rolled a double they went into the middle, put worker gloves on, and unwrapped as many presents as they could.  They then threw/slid the gifts they got open back to their seat.  At that point those presents were yours.  Only two people could be in the middle at a time unwrapping gifts though, so once someone else rolled a double, your time was up!  There were about 60 missionaries at this conference (about half sisters and half elders), in a big circle, playing this game...haha it was quite the sight!  Even Sister McDonough [the mission president's wife] played and got a couple gifts!  Sister Walker and I actually did really well, surprisingly.  Actually, I'm not surprised Sister Walker did so well since she is such a go-getter, but many people didn't even roll a double the entire game and Sister Walker and I walked out with our arms full of stuff we had gotten.  :)

My gift that I put in the middle was a nutcracker that I converted into a missionary.  It was originally a teacher, but after some time with a pair of scissors, some rubber-cement, a sharpie, and a white out pen, he came out looking like an Elder.  I really liked it!  So much so I was half tempted to keep it for myself, but I didn't.

So that was probably the excitement of the week!  The spirit felt at Zone Conference was just as enjoyable and so powerful.  I received answers I had been praying about for a while, and my testimony and faith were rekindled as I felt the spirit burn within my heart and testify of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We also got to hear the testimonies of those missionaries that will be leaving this transfer and the next (before next zone conference).  One of those was our current District Leader.  He's been serving in Florence as long as Sister Meek and I have been, so he's one of the missionaries I actually know better.  Another one was one of our Sister Training Leaders who I really love and admire.  There were many others, and it's weird that it's getting to the point that I do know most of them that are going home.

Hearing their testimonies makes you reflect on the things you have done since coming out to serve a mission.  It made me take a self-check and see if I am serving the Lord the way I want to and the way He expects me to.  Am I doing all I can to make time count?  After all, it is His time I am using.  I was humbled as I felt the spirit testify to me that this is His work, His time, and His gospel.  These are our Heavenly Father's children and He loves all of us.

Probably the over-arching question of the conference and Elder Zwick's meeting for me was, "Am I willing to change?"  Repentance and the Lord's atonement have been on my mind lately, and one of the words I've come to love to associate with repentance is change.  Repentance is not punishment, as one of the apostles said.  It is the hope-filled path of change.  Change to becoming like our Savior Jesus Christ, to living a life of peace and happiness, to returning to our Heavenly Father.  Elder Zwick shared a scripture with us, putting it in question form, "And are we willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will...?" (Mosiah 5:5)  Are we?  Are you?

That's the question I had to seriously ask myself.  There are things our mission President and the apostles have asked us to do or change as missionaries (nothing big, like shortening lessons to make them more simple and intense with the spirit).  Am I willing to change old habits, even if they aren't really bad, in order to make things better and follow the council the Lord has given us through his representatives - our church leaders.  I am a representative of Jesus Christ, who did all the will of the Father.  That means that I too should do all the will of the Father, whether that comes through our living prophet, the apostles, my mission president, my district leader, or personal revelation.  I testify that it is "up to us to be the change." (Josh Groban song)  I know that if we will choose to change, the Lord will help us and bless us with more than we know.

I love you all so much!  And I pray that you all are enjoying this wonderful Christmas season!  May your days be bright, and your faith even brighter!  I know that the Lord Jesus Christ lives and loves us!  He lives!  May THE force be with you all, and in you all, as you decide to change this Christmas season.

Week of Thanksgiving

It's December!  I can't believe that it's already December!  The second half of this year went by so much faster than I thought it would.  It's weird to say that almost 6 months ago I was leaving to the MTC.  Crazy!

This last week was different with Thanksgiving.  The favorite food item down here is called dressing.  It's similar to stuffing, but it's in a casserole form, and has pieces of chicken in it.  Some also add a little bit of red and green peppers.  It's pretty good, but it's no substitute for good mashed potatoes and gravy, which they don't really have on Thanksgiving down here.  They do have sweet potato casserole, though, and I love that!  I know I didn't growing up, but I love it now!  And sweet potato pie is SUPER good.  Better than pumpkin pie in my opinion...at least when it's cooked by our neighbor. :)  So on Thanksgiving we had lunch with [one of our favorite investigators] (yes, he did all of the cooking and did it well!), and then dinner with an active member family in our ward, the Harris'.  There's actually many Harris' in our ward that are all related, but they all gathered at one home and we joined them there.  Elder Parker and Elder Durrant also came to the Harris'.  It was good food and good company, but I'll be honest, it was weird to not be doing as much missionary work.

We had a really good time in Mendenhall on Tuesday.  We've been going to that part of our area (about 35-40 minutes south of our apartment) once every week for the past 6 weeks now.  This time was even more special because we got to have both Brother and Sister Cothern [local members] take us around.  Usually it's just Sister Cothern since Brother Cothern works and then will have to stay home to take care of the kids, but the kids were at their mom's (previous marriage), and Brother Cothern was off work!  It turned out to be a huge blessing because he made some connections with people we visited that the rest of us couldn't have, since we're all from Utah (including Sister Cothern, who married Brother Cothern almost 3 years ago).  He was also able to give a blessing to a less active member who needed it.  It was great to see so many lives touched that day in that area - 8 families/individuals.

[One of our great investigators] ended up having to work yesterday (Sunday) so he wasn't able to come to church or meet with us, but we have rescheduled for Friday.  We aren't giving up on him.  He's such a good kid and has so much potential.  I can't wait until we can teach him some more! [Another husband and wife we've been teaching] were out of town most of the week so we didn't get to visit with them either, but we will on Wednesday.  There are many potentials that we have, but we are working on finding those who are ready to move forward in coming closer to Jesus Christ by receiving the restored gospel.  I'll let you know as they start coming through!

Fun moment this last week! I was on exchanges with one of our sister training leaders, Sister Cox.  And I got to go to her area - North Jackson!  It was fun to work in a new area, and it was my first time working in an area outside of the Florence ward!  So all of Saturday I was in Jackson with Sister Cox spreading the gospel.  I learned a lot.  And one of the best moments we had was that someone actually accepted our offer to do some service for them!  There was a mom and her daughter outside putting Christmas lights on their bushes and we offered to help.  They accepted and put us to work!  It was so fun, and reminded me of my Mom and Dad going through lights to see what works and mostly what doesn't haha.  But we got the lights on and it looked pretty good when we were done!  We also shared a scripture with them - "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." (Matthew 5:16)  The mom said she really felt it when we read that scripture with her.  I hope that we are all being a light.  Sometime I feel like the one that's burnt out amongst the group, and that with all of the others that are shining, no one will notice that I'm not shining.  However, most of the time when a light is burnt out, there is usually a good rest of the lights that won't work.  It's not until you fix the broken one that the rest can shine.  I think that's how it is with us as well.  "Let the lower lights be burning.  Send a gleam across the way.  Some poor fainting, struggling sea man you may rescue, you may save." (Hymn: Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy)  It's a ripple affect.  We all feed off of each other's lights.  As we shine, we help others to shine too.  If we are not shining, who knows who may lose there way.  On the other hand, as we shine our light, who knows who may find it.  I know that "the Lord is my light."  I'm so glad He didn't burn out, so that the rest of us can have that light, that hope, and that guide.

As Christmas time is upon us, I hope each of us are able to put that spirit in our hearts.  I love this time - the joy, the peace, the light.  Remember, as President Monson said, "to find the spirit of Christmas, you need only drop the last syllable, and you find the spirit of Christ."  I would invite each of you to think more about our Savior and to shine your light a little brighter this week.  I came to learn in a very real way this week that our thoughts are so powerful and influencial on our words and actions.  I know that what we think makes a big difference in how our day goes.  I'm still working at making my thoughts better, but I do know that our thoughts matter and do make a difference.  "Watch yourselves, and your thoughts...." (Mosiah 4:30)  "By small and simple things...." (Alma 37:6-7).  That's become one of my mottos: by small and simple things.  All things are possible if we will do the small and simple things.

I love you all!  Hope ya'll have a wonderful week!  May THE force be with you!

So much to be Thankful for :)

Here is a picture of the four of us just today in the rain outside of our apartment! :)

Happy week of Thanksgiving all ya'll!

I can't believe it's already time for Thanksgiving.  It's raining a ton today, and it seems weird to me that on November 25th there would be rain coming from the sky and not snow.  I feel like if any moisture is going to come, it should be snow, but not here in good old Mississippi. :)  But I am so thankful for this time of year.  Some people are breaking out the Christmas decorations, including one of our neighbors, and I love it.  For me Thanksgiving and Christmas go together.  Thanksgiving is the forerunner of Christmas to help us remember our blessings and to be humble.  It sets the mood for what the Christmas season is all about - our Savior Jesus Christ.  I am so thankful to be a member of His church and to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  I'm grateful to be His representative as a full-time missionary.

I'm grateful for the miracle and blessing of the atonement of Jesus Christ, and to see it more in my life and the lives of others.  The other night I was thinking about how frustrating it is when someone you're teaching won't just do the simple things, when you know and they know that the blessings are there and ready to be given to them!  Then I thought about how frustrating it must be for the Lord when I don't do some of the simple things He's asked me to do, knowing that the blessings are there and waiting for me to just take them.  That made me realize how much patience and love Christ and our Heavenly Father have for each of us.  It watered my eyes to think about how much love must fill their hearts for each of us.  I'm trying so hard to have that love in my heart - that charity - and it is not easy.  However, I have been able to feel it more and have learned so much about our Brother Jesus Christ and our Father in Heaven as I have studied charity, prayed for charity, and tried to live worthy of having the Holy Ghost with me so that I can have more charity.

This last week, I think one of the biggest highlights for me, was the miracle of a lesson that we had yesterday.  It was in the home of one of our active member families.  Their son is 19 and is preparing to go on a mission right now (woot woot!).  About 3 months ago [this son] brought a couple of friends to church (brothers) who are not members.  At the time I was in a trio with Sister Meek and Walker.  We talked with them, gave them our number, and invited them to come back.  A week ago Saturday one of these friends texted us.  It was a simple text.  All it said was, "Hey sister missionaries."  We ended up answering a few questions and clarifying that we are indeed Christians, and then he agreed to learn more.  We planned to meet at Wendy's last Friday, but he ended up not being able to get a ride there.  So we rescheduled for Sunday (yesterday) at [the member friend's] house.  When we first got there I was a bit more nervous than usual because we have never done a lesson in a member's home, and I felt a lot more pressure to have it be a really good lesson. But as the dad said the opening prayer, I reminded myself of faith, not fear, and focused on listening to the spirit and helping [this young man].  It turned out to be one of the best lessons ever.  The spirit was there, he asked good questions, [the member friend] and his family were great at answering some questions and making things personally applicable to [this young man], and sister Walker and I were courageous in opening our mouths and saying the things the spirit put into our hearts.  It was amazing to me what a difference it made to have members there who [the investigator] knew, and to have it in their home where the atmosphere was one that the spirit could be present.  The two main advantages I felt from having a lesson in that situation was (1) [the member friend] and his family were able to relate things to [this young man] in a way we as missionaries couldn't because we don't know as much about him. (2) I felt more confident that [this young man] would receive the encouragement, nourishment, and answers he needed because he had member friends to be there for him, instead of us as missionaries trying to make sure we contact him and check on him everyday, along with all of the other people we're trying to teach/strengthen/follow up with.

I wish every lesson could be like that.  We had stake conference this last weekend and one of the speakers reminded us of what President Hinckley told us every recent convert (and member) needs: A friend/fellowshipper, an assignment, and the nurishing word of God.  I simplified that into saying that every member needs a FAN - Friend, Assignment, Nurishing word of God.  I have full confidence that [this young man] has all of that set up for him.  He is a great young man and I really hope that he will be able to progress.  He was happy to accept a book of Mormon and read it, and also accepted the invitation to be baptized as he came to know that what we taught is true!  I was so happy and know that he has been prepared.  He is awesome.  It was a miracle I had been praying and fasting for. And like my wise cousin told me in her letter of advice for the mission, "not every miracle ends in baptism, but that doesn't make it any less of a miracle."  That's how I feel and I am so thankful for the Lord's answer to my prayers to be able to find someone who was ready to listen and accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  We are scheduled to meet with [this young man] next Sunday at [the member's] home again, so I'll let you know how it goes!  I'm excited!

I love you all so much, and hope that this Thanksgiving you find yourself surrounded by people you love, including the Lord.  My He be a more active part of our lives as we choose to drop our nets, follow Him, and feed His sheep.  What is the purpose of this life?  It's not just to pass through tests and challenges.  It's not even just to learn and grow.  It's also to help each other and bring each other home.  May we all help to bring someone home this week, by reaching out in love and kindness to share the gospel light and the love of our Heavenly Father and Savior.  I love you all so much!  Be safe and faithful!  And may THE force always be with you!

100% :)

Happy happy holidays ya'll!!

I am so excited for the holidays!  I know that Thanksgiving is still a week and a half away, but I've just been in the mood this past week!  We visited a member in the southern part of our area and as soon as we walked in my heart melted and rejoiced!  I felt so much joy!  Her house was already decorated in Christmas decorations!  She had three trees, a whole village like my Grandma Knighton's, and a long table full of nativity pieces.  I felt so at home walking in there, it was amazing.  It is definitely going to be weird to not be home for the holidays, but I am so excited to have all of the decorations up because it will help to bring some of home here :)  Awe, I just love the Thanksgiving and Christmas season! :)

So I am all recovered from my wicked cold I had!  It really was a tough one that took me out for a couple days, but it's gone and I am happy and well! :)  Also, my ringworm is almost gone too!  I'll send a picture to show that it's fading, although it's still visible.  In about a week it should be completely gone.

The exciting news with people we're teaching this last week is that [one of our investigators] accepted the invitation to be baptized!  She is the girlfriend of a less active [brother] in the ward.  It's awesome!  She came to the Relief Society activity this last Thursday and had a great time!  They didn't make it to church yesterday becasue of sickness, but we are visiting them tonight and I'm so excited for them!  This should help [her boyfriend] to get back up on his feet in doing what he knows is right.  [This woman] is a very very sweet woman and I think she will soak up the gospel and really be the driving force behind [her boyfriend].  Love the gospel :)

Also, an update on [another investigator who is contemplating baptism].  I haven't talked about him much lately becasue the other sisters (Sister Meek and Ray) are teaching him, but he is doing well.  Our mission president and the bishop have both advised to take things slowly, mainly because of his family situation. They don't want him to get baptized while his girlfriend is deployed, just because it's the easy way right now, and then have to deal with how to work things out when she gets back.  Families are important to our Heavenly Father, and he would rather us work things out than take the "easy way out".  He still has his choice, and he could still get baptized while she's gone, but we're not going to pressure him right now.

He did come to church with his kids though!  And they loved it!  The ward loved him, and they loved the ward, so good things are still happening for sure!  I have no doubt that [this man] will become a strong and faithful member one day, and that he will stay on that path.  The timing of it all is uncertain, but in the Lord's way and timing it will happen.  I honestly see a lot of leadership potential in him.  He still has things to learn, for sure - like we all do - but he will be a great addition to building the Kingdom of God and working in his vineyard.

For some fun I wanted to share a few more Southern Sayin's with ya'll.
Especially since my brother requested it :)  Here they are:
Cut the lights/tv on/off
Dressing = Stuffing (like thanksgiving stuffing.  They call it dressing)
Bein Ugly = you're not being nice
Showin Out is similar to bein Ugly
Tickled = makes them so happy/giddy inside
Mee-Maw (that's how you say it), Ma-maw, Ma-mo = Grandma
Pa-paw, Papa = Grandpa
So there's some fun sayins ya'll can start fixin to say! :)

This last week I have studied quite a few General Conference talks.  I LOVE them, bytheway.  Something really hit me while I was reading President Eyring's talk.  It hit me that the only way we can have Charity in our hearts is to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost.  Without the Holy Ghost - the spirit of the Lord - it is impossible to have charity.  Charity is a gift from God, so unless we are worthy of it, we will not have it.  Having the Holy Ghost with us is how our hearts can be softened and our minds can be open to understanding.  That then enables us to have Charity as we are able to see others as our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ see them - as children of God.  Over time we become able to love them unconditionaly with all of our heart.

I would invite all of you to study this next week a talk that was given in this last General Conference.  They are modern scripture.  I promise you that as you do, you will find strength.  You will receive power to conquere your trials.  You will find peace.  I know this because that is what I have found this last week as I have studied them.  Look to the Lord's prophet and apostles for direction.

I love you all!  Keep the faith and keep moving forward!  May THE force be with you, that you may have charity in your hearts!

Hey all ya'll!

This past week has brought a few new adventures.  First of all, ringworm.  Yeah I actually got it the week before, but didn't know what it was until this last week.  Don't worry, it's nothing really bad.  It's not a worm, it's just bacteria apparently.  It forms a red ring though, so that's where it gets its name.  It's on my right forearm and is the size of a dime.  I've also got a very small one on my chin, but both are healing really well and should be completely gone in the next week and a half or so.  I'll send some pictures so you can see that it's not that bad. :)  Oh yeah, and Sister Walker thinks she got a small dose of it, but you can't see it too well in the picture.

I'm also feeling a little under the weather today as I have caught a wicked cold, but it's all good.  I'll get better :)  In the meantime Sister Walker is taking very good care of me.  She's done some of my laundry, let me take a nap, and tells me to rest.  She's really good to me :)

So, happy news!  [A man we have wanted to work with] came to church yesterday! He is a less active that we have been trying to meet with since I got in the area.  I don't remember if I mentioned him last week, but he came to our ward Halloween party, which was huge!!  He hadn't stepped foot in the church in over 2 years!  And then he came to church on Sunday with his girlfriend!  We were SO happy!! :)  Also, [another investigator] came to church with his kids!  Wahoo!!  He finally was able to make it! And he and his kids loved it and said they'll be back. :)  Also, a lady that the Elders are teaching decided on Sunday that she wants to be baptized this weekend!  I love her!   . . . . She is awesome.  I don't know if her baptism will end up being this weekend or next weekend, but it will be one of them and we're so excited for her!  She actually told all of us Sisters before she told the Elders haha. So Sunday was a happy day! :)

The missionary work here with the ward is increasing.  More members are wanting to come out with us and are getting involved.  Our ward mission leader was also blessed with a new job that enables him to meet with us on a regular basis and be more available!  The ward out here in Florence is being strengthened a little bit at a time and it is amazing to watch.

Also, here is a thought.  Keep praying for those who you know and love and are farther from the gospel than they should be.  There is a less active member in our ward who is married to a wonderful woman who is of the Catholic faith.  He has been going to church with her for about 10 years, maybe more.  His brother is also in the ward.  His brother and his brother's wife have been praying for him for a long time.  A couple weeks ago we gave this less active's wife a Book of Mormon, which she happily accepted.  This last week we were able to visit with this less active and his wife at the church.  We didn't visit for very long, and they did express to us that they were not intending on changing religions, but that they did enjoy talking with us.  Even with that being said, the sister-in-law of this less active talked to Sister Walker and I afterwards and said she was astonished when he told her that they were meeting with us.  She said she would go home that night and thank the Lord for a prayer answered.  I know that their conversion won't be a short one, or one that happens soon, but I do believe that with constant small and simple means, they will believe.

I know that the Lord loves each of us.  He is the good Shepherd and He knows His sheep.  He knows what we need, and listens and answers our prayers.  It is a humbling and joyful experience to be the means that our Heavenly Father answers someone else's prayer.  I know that if we are living our best to follow the Savior, we will find this joy in being "an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance...then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer." (Alma 29:9-10)

I would invite all of you to look for those opportunities to share the love of the Lord and be an instrument in His hands.  If you are down, stressed, or overwhelmed, know that the Lord loves you.  Serve Him and you will see His love in your life. :)

I love you all so much!  Keep the faith my friends and family!  May THE force be with you!

You CAN do it!

Hello again!

So today was transfer day!  We ended up going to transfer point because we got a phone call yesterday that we were going to be getting a new car...well turns out that there was a slight mix up and someone else ended up needing it more, so we still have our same car.  We didn't find out until we got there, but oh how fun it was to go and be surrounded by so many missionaries!  Even though all four of us sisters in Florence are staying the same, one of our elders is going home, one of our zone leaders got transferred to a different area, and one of the sisters in our district got transferred, so we will have some new people to get to know!  It was so fun to check up with other missionaries I know and help out with some of the new ones.  Loved it :)

We've had a pretty busy week.  We've been working a lot with some less actives and have really seen more light and excitement come into the lives of [one sister] and her 3 teenage kids.  We love them so much!  It's awesome to see others get excited about the gospel and the Book of Mormon.  We've been reading a chapter with them from the Book of Mormon every time we go over, and this last time when we were done the youngest one said, "can we read half of the next chapter?"  It was awesome!!  It made me so happy to hear and see that she was coming to love it so much!  It made me love even more and get even more excited about the Book of Mormon!

We've also started working with a less active member who joined about 3 years ago and went in active about 2 years ago because of emotional things that happened.  He still has a testimony though, it's just a matter of helping him get the courage to come back to church and live the way he knows he supposed to and even wants to live.  We were so excited when he came to the ward Halloween party!!  That was HUGE!  And there were TONS of people there!  Members who hadn't been to church in years, investigators, non-members of part-member families, and active members!  All people that we love and were so excited to see!

So the investigator that we are working with most right now is an 80 year old woman who is mostly blind (can't read the Book of Mormon), is home bound right now because of health (can't go to church), and lost her nose to cancer (can't be immersed in water).  Yes, her nose is completely gone so she tapes some tissue over her face where your nose would go, or else you'd be able to see right inside to all of her sinuses.  She did show us the first time we visited her and my companion LOVED it.  She thought it was so cool.  I looked for a split second and would glance back every now and then, but....that's not my cup of koolaid :)  No I didn't pass out, and I did think it was pretty neat that that was even possible, but it wasn't an image I wanted to dwell on :)  Anyways, [this woman] is awesome and believes everything we say.  She is praying about being baptized, which shows a lot of faith since it would take a miracle to do it...don't ask me how we would, but we'd find a way if she decided she wanted to.

With a lot of the people that we've talked to this week, and with some feelings I've had myself, my thoughts are on the phrase "You can do it!"  There's a really good quote from Elder Bednar that I have taped on the wall next to my bed, "If I had the wish of my heart, I would shake your hand, draw you close, look you in the eye, and say.... You can do this!  The Lord you represent and serve knows you can do this.  I know you can do this, and as His servant, I promise you will have His help.  Please remember always that with His help and in His strength, you can do this!"  That is my message to all of you today, You can do this!  I know that the Lord loves each of us and is with us at all times.  He is always there.  He is helping you along, and you will see Him there as you look for Him.

I love you all so much!  Have a wonderful week!  May THE force be with you!

Golden Mop Award

On November 4th, the following email was received by Felicia's family:

Dear Missionary families,

We want you to know that we "caught" your missionary being clean!  In the Mississippi Jackson Mission, clean apartments are rewarded with the Golden Mop Award. It's our way to acknowledge the effort they have put for to clean their apartment to a higher standard.  Part of that is sending the pictures home so you can know how well they are doing.

We love being able to send these pictures home.  We see with these amazing missionaries and are so grateful to have the opportunity to work with the missionary force that is covering the earth.  They are an inspiration to us and we learn from them every day.  Thank you for supporting your missionary as they serve their brothers and sisters here in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Warmest regards,
Elder and Sister Lefgren,

Housing Coordinators

Charity :)

It has been another great week!  President McDonough and his wife came and spoke in our Florence ward's sacrament meeting yesterday and I loved it!  They gave a commitment to everyone to meet someone they did not know by the end of the block of meetings and to continue to meet new people every week.  I thought it was awesome!  President said that we gather together each week to help each other and lift each other up.  How can we do that if we do not talk to or know the people who we gather with?  So I am committing myself to do the same thing and to do that when I get home.  Be the one to reach out to others.  Don't be offended because someone didn't say hi to you.  Reach out in love to someone else and you will feel even better than if someone reached out to you - I know that.  One of my favorite songs says, "Our lives were meant for reaching from the moment we were born.  Our dreams were meant to guide us to the things we're reaching for.  And as God looks down upon us, I believe He's reaching too.  And I think that He is teaching us that reaching is what we're here to do."  I do believe that we are here to reach out to others - in love and charity.  Charity is the Christlike attribute I am working on now.  There are many pieces of charity, but the "two pieces of the pie" that I am working on right now are to see others as Children of God, and to avoid judging, criticizing, and talking negatively about others.  Charity is a gift.  I know that as we "pray unto the Father with all energy of heart, that [we] may be filled with this love" (Moroni 7:48), that we are filled with it a little bit at a time.  Charity is not easy to have, but it helps so much when we allow ourselves to take a little bit more into our hearts.

As far as teaching goes, we were super excited to give a Book of Mormon to the non-member wife of a less active in the ward!  They have been going to her church for the past 8 years or so, but he helps out with the scouts every Wednesday night and is an awesome man!  I wasn't actually there to give it to her because we were on exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders (STL's- similar to AP's, but they are sisters), so Sister Walker and Sister Cox gave it to her.  However, I was told that she was so grateful for it!  I'm so excited because I have felt for a long time that this man is ready to come back, but wants his family with him.  I hope things continue to go well!  Also, that whole situation was awesome because Sister Johnson and I had stopped by his house to see him and talked with him, his wife, and some of his sons for a few minutes before we had to go to a dinner appointment.  Only a half hour later, Sister Walker got the prompting to stop by there and they caught the family right before they were about to leave their house to go eat dinner.  And that's when they gave them the Book of Mormon.  That morning I had the thought that we might over lap where we stopped by, knowing that we were going to be working in the same area, and that something really good may come from it....and it did!  It was amazing to me!

We also started our weekly Mendenhall trip (the southern-most part of our area) and spent the night there with some members so that we can start working that area.  It went really well!  We were able to see some less actives, an active older couple, and go tracting and get some potentials!  All of the members were excited to have us there and to hear that we would be back weekly!  I really am excited to expand where we've been and reach out to more people!

Also, I already told you last week that we are all four staying in this area for the next transfer.  What a blessing!  We were considering having Sister Walker and I move to an apartment in Florence so that we would be inside the borders of our proselyting area, but after prayer and council with the Zone Leaders, we are all going to stay in the same apartment we are currently in.  At the beginning of last week I really felt like we should split and was hoping we'd get the ok, but after really praying about it and thinking about it, I wanted us all to stay together.  I was hoping the Zone Leaders would tell us that we were staying together, and last night they called and said we are!  I really feel like there is a support and groupness about having all four of us together. We are able to give support, encouragement, and learn from each other.

I'm so grateful to be here at this time and to have the opportunity to serve the Lord by having the calling of a full-time missionary.  I do miss you all back home and wish I could be there with you through all of the ups and downs, to see your victories and reach out during your sorrows, but I know that being apart of the Lord's work here in Mississippi at this time is a blessing - not only for me now, but for many later.  I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and that it is led by our loving brother and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I know our Heavenly Father lives.  I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to teach the gospel principles class yesterday at church.  It was on prayer to our Heavenly Father.  It was simple.  But I loved focusing on the simplicity of prayer to our Heavenly Father.  Remember that it is by small and simple things that great things are brought to pass.  I know that's true!

I lvoe you all and wish you all the very best!  May THE force be with you!  (Yes, there is a reason "the" is bolded (: )

My joy is full :)

Happy Fall Ya'll!!

That is one of the most common phrases around here right now.  Wreathes, signs, decorations....it's everywhere and I love it!  So happy fall ya'll!  Sorry this email didn't come yesterday because I forgot that yesterday we had interviews with president so our p-day got pushed to today.  Next week it will be on Monday though!  And speaking of transfers, during interviews yesterday President told all four of us in Florence that we will be staying another transfer!!!!!!!  WAHOO!!!!  We were all hoping so much and even praying (well I actually couldn't bring myself to say it in a prayer, but I really wanted too!) and so when President told us that we were all SOOO happy!!!  Of course transfers is still 2 weeks away, and it is possible that the Lord will direct President to send some of us another way, but it's basically 95% sure that we will all be staying in the Florence ward!

I really have enjoyed and even loved my time here.  On Sunday I was looking back over what has happened and the progress that has been made in this area.  In Sacrament meeting we had 12 people who were either investigators, less actives, or recent converts.  That was amazing.....absolutely amazing.  We have gone from 2 missionaries to 6 (Sister Meek and I being numbers 3 & 4).  We have had 4 baptisms.  I know that success can't be found in numbers alone.  But each soul that comes unto Christ is a victory to me.  In that sense numbers do matter, because the people they are referring to matter.  My joy was so full on Sunday to see with physical and spiritual eyes the growth that has happened in this ward.  I feel so blessed to have been able to be apart of it and to be able to stay another 6 weeks (8 from today) to see it grow more.  I love the people here.  It will be hard to leave when the time comes, but I do feel that I could do it because I feel that I will have left this ward and these people better than I found them.  There have definitely been hard days, but looking back I was able to see all the good and that was all that stuck out.  My joy was full :)

So to give you an update on everything else that happened this week, I'll start by saying how excited I am that our good friend [and neighbor investigator] is praying about a baptism date!  I don't remember how much I have said about him, but he is amazing.  He has a personality that he won't go into anything half-heartedly.  Once he makes a choice he goes in all the way and sticks with it.  So he has done tons of research and we've talked about a lot of things with him and he's decided he feels that this is right - that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true.  He has stopped smoking and drinking and is planning on separating with his girlfriend to obey the law of chastity (and he has 2 kids). . . . He's talked about marrying a Mormon woman and wants to put copies of the Book of Mormon in all of the churches that our church has donated Bibles to.  And he's chosen to do all of this even with his father being a baptist preacher, having a friend who likes to bible-bash Mormons, and so many friends who still drink and smoke.  I'm telling you, he is all in.  I have so much respect for him and brotherly love.  It has been miraculous to watch the Lord work in his life and to see [this man] let Him in.  I'm so excited for him and even more excited because the odds are very high that all four of us sisters who have been apart of this journey with [him], will be here when he decides to follow the example of our Savior Jesus Christ by being baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God.

This week we (Sister Walker and I) also had a really good lesson with a less-active family (who we also love).  This family is awesome too!  We talked with them about the plan of salvation and ended up teaching them some things they didn't know.  It was so fun and made me so happy to see light bulbs go off as things clicked in their heads.  Like the reason why we do baptisms for the dead!  I love it when you see someone get it!  It makes me so happy! :)  Before we taught the lesson we made cookies with them.  Then after the lesson we tied it into our cookies.  We talked about what it takes to make a cookie - a perfect cookie.  You have to put in all of the right ingredients, you can't leave any of them out, and you have to follow the directions.  Similarly, in order to get into the highest glory of heaven, you have to do all of the things that the Lord has asked us to do, and you have to follow his directions.  Then we ate our cookies with them.  Mmmm, yes we did enjoy our "celestial cookies". :)

We were also able to go teach a lesson to one of [our recent convert's] friends at the hospital.  [This woman] has her newborn in the hospital for many complications.  She is super humble and sweet and is searching to learn more about Jesus Christ because of it.  We have given her a Book of Mormon and she is starting to read it.  Teaching at the hospital was very different, but also felt so right...like these are people who could definitely use the comfort of the gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives.  I wanted to talk to all of the people there, but of course I didn't.  It was a neat experience though, and we are excited to be teaching [this woman]!

We also had some car fun this week haha. :)  So a couple of weeks ago our car was in the shop for a week solid because of transmission problems.  I guess it kept slipping because I would be driving and press on the gas pedal to accelerate and all of a sudden the gas pedal would fall to the floor and not do anything....not such a fun experience haha :)  So last week we were driving it and it happened again - after being in the shop for a week.  I was not happy.  I did not want to have to do another week without the car.  It is super hard when the border of the area you're working is about 4 miles aways, or a 20-30 minute bike ride, depending on traffic.  So when we talked with our vehicle coordinator, we were able to convince him to let us keep going unless it happened again.  So Wednesday we were driving back from district meeting in Clinton (about 25 minutes away) and I took a wrong exit on the interstate (these interstates and highways out here are a lot more complicated than just I-15 in Utah).  As we were going on the curve-around on-ramp to get back on, the gas-pedal gave out.  Yup, on the on-ramp.  Super fun!  So I pulled over to the side as much as I could, but there isn't a whole lot of room on an on-ramp.  We all held our breath as a semi came up and tried to go around us.  He made it by.  I tried to stop the car, turn it off, turn it back on, and go again, but it gave out again.  We were right in the middle of the on-ramp.  We ended up sitting there for about 15 minutes.  Many cars and semis passed us - including an ambulance and a highway patrol.  We had called the elders (who were with a member going back from district meeting) and our vehicle coordinator.  But ultimately we sat there.  I was nervous to try to start the car again because it was more dangerous if it gave out further up the on-ramp.  After we got off the phone we prayed and I started up the car again.  Then all of a sudden a pick-up truck stops in front of us and backs up to us.  Two guys hop out and ask what's wrong.  They take a look and rev the engine and finally decide to have me try and they will follow to make sure we'll alright.  Well we get going and end up making it all the way home!  The story doesn't end though.  The guys also follow us all the way home and guess what?? When I first saw the driver I thought I recognized him.  When we got out of our car at our apartment to thank him he looked at my name tag and asked what my name was.  I told him he looked familiar and he said, I think I was supposed to meet with you one time and then didn't.  Then I asked if his name was ______.  He got a smile on his face and nodded his head.  This was a guy we had tracted into 2 months ago!  I couldn't believe it!  The odds of that whole thing happening were unreal.  Playing back the list of events that led up to that moment, there was no question in my mind that the Lord wanted us to talk to him that day.  He lives in the other sisters area, so we'll see how that goes!  But it was a really neat experience and incredible to see how the Lord can and does work in mysterious ways.  And as an fyi, we took the car into the shop the next morning and they fixed it in one day...at least we hope :)  It's running well right now and we hope and pray it continues to.  However, I have no fear of it going out again, because I believe all things happen for a reason and it will all be according to the Lord's will.

Well it's about time to go, but I love you all and am so thankful for the support, prayers, and letters/emails that come from all of you!  They really do help!  Keep the faith and remember who you are!  Be not weary in well-doing, and may THE force be with ya'll!

Go BIG or go home

This last weeks highlight for me was obedience.  On Wednesday at district meeting our zone leaders taught us and extended (actually re-extended) the commitment to tract 7 hours every week.  Sister Walker and I have wanted to work on that for a while, but have lacked the actual "umph" to do it.  With that invitation from our zone leaders though, we re-committed ourselves and decided we would do everything we could to get in our seven hours for the week...at that point we had zero.  Well last night, at the end of the week, we ended up with 7.5 hours of tracting.  Yes, miracles happened and blessings were given.  It wasn't easy, but it also wasn't as hard as I had imagined it being.  We just needed to do it.  We ended up with 4 pretty solid new investigators and some other possible investigators!  It was really good.

Other good news of the week, [one of our investigators] was baptized! It was tough, and you could tell the adversary was trying to prevent it from happening, but it happened and it happened on her birthday.  What a sweet moment it was so see her baptized on Friday and confirmed on Sunday!  She is an amazing woman and will do so much good in her family - her husband and his parents are all less actives.  We love [this woman] and her family and I really hope that she notices the difference as she continues to follow Jesus Christ with the Holy Ghost as her constant companion. What a blessing that is, to have the Holy Ghost with you always if you are living worthy of it. :)

Also, our apartment doesn't smell like smoke anymore!  It was ozoned last Monday and the carpets were cleaned on Tuesday.  That meant that we spent Sunday night through Wednesday day out of our apartment.  We stayed with some other sister missionaries in Clinton Sunday night, and then spent two nights at a members home in the southern part of our area (Mendenhall).  Anyways, we were very happy to come back to our apartment and have a smoke-smell free home!

Also, to go back to obedience, something kind of hit me this week.  The phrase "Go BIG or go home."  I've realized that setting lower expectations does NOT help you.  Yes, there does need to be a balance, and you should not try to run faster than you have strength, but don't feel that lowering expectations or goals will bring greater happiness because then you'll be able to achieve them.  Stretch yourself!  That's something I've been learning.  You may need to change your plan or timetable of achieving the goals, but don't stop yourself from growing because you're not willing to go through some "growing pain". I don't plan on going home anytime soon, so I want to go BIG.  I am going to strive to be exactly obedient, and do as much good as I can before it is my time to come home.  When I look back, I want to be able to see and feel that I made a difference for good - in myself, in others, in the mission.  The Lord's work is going to move forward and I want to be a part of it.  The same applies to our earthly mission.  What are we going to say and how are we going to feel when we look back on our earthly mission?  Will we have experienced "a mighty change in our hearts" and "received Christ's image in our countenance"?  Will "our works have been the works of righteousness?" (Alma 5:14-16)  I hope so. :)

I love you all so much!  May THE force be with you this week!

Sister Fish-y and Conference :)

So some great things and some interesting things happened this week!  First of all, the interesting...aka funny...and a little fishy :)

Sunday night we ate at a members home and they fed us fish, shrimp, salad, and mozzarella sticks.  It tasted good, but you need to see the picture of my plate of food...I had to get past the look, but it tasted fine and we were grateful for their service.  They are some of my favorite people out here.  I love them!  They make us laugh, love us, stick to the gospel, and the husband is always telling people about the church and inviting friends and neighbors to come.

Good news for the week!  We got a washer and dryer, and a new table and chairs set!  We now have enough tables for each of us to sit at the table!  And the table is VERY nice compared to what we had.  We went from an outdoor small circle wooden table, to a nice rectangle dark burgundy wood table and chairs with white padding.  We felt like princesses!  We were SOO excited!  It was an early Christmas gift!

Conference also felt like Christmas!  The night before I was so excited!  I LOVE conference, and it went by all too fast.  So we were hoping to get a lot more investigators there then we did, but some ended up with sick kids, others with family issues.  However, [one of our investigators] watched some of it on her phone on Saturday and got the channel for a day so that she could watch it on Sunday.  Good news with [her]!  We visited her Sunday morning and she told us that she had been feeling that her birthday would be special this year (that's the date we have set as her goal for baptism).  Then she told us that she read the talk we'd given her to read in the August Ensign on Moving Forward with Faith and felt like that's what she wants to do.  She decided that that's what she would do with her baptism - move forward with faith - and if it wasn't right that God would give her a feeling of no.  I was so happy that I wanted to cry.  My heart melted and I was so grateful!  That had been the desire of my heart when I invited her to read that talk last week.  [This investigator] reminds me so much of me and my decision making process.  I want so much to feel a strong and overwhelming feeling of yes!  And yet, sometimes (and for me it's most of the time) the Lord wants us to judge for ourselves if it "inviteth and enticeth to do good," and then take a step of faith into the dark.  THEN He will direct our steps and we will receive a witness that what we have done is right, or a stupor of thought that we should go another way.  I know this is true.

So [she] will be getting baptized this Friday - her birthday!  We are more than excited for her!  She is a wonderful woman and her family is amazing and full of love!  We got to really meet and talk with her husband this last week and being with them and their 3 girls as we knelt in prayer together was one of the sweetest and most "home" moments I have felt on my mission so far.  It was crazy - [this investigator] was praying, her two older girls were wondering around playing with my water bottle and trying to give it to people (including [her]) to drink from, and Sister Walker and I were trying not to laugh - but it was a moment where the spirit was strong.  It was a sweet moment, as in soft and simple and happy. :)

Then [our neighbor investigator] came to the last session of Conference on Saturday!  He is such a strong man.  He has really been faced with some family challenge this last week, but has decided that no matter what, if he feels that this is what he needs to do, he is going to do it.  He said that at the end of the day, his Father in heaven is who matters most to him.  Also, he started the Stop Smoking Program on his own!  That's like unheard of!  We were going to start it with him this week and when he came to conference he told us he hasn't smoked  since last Friday night!  Wahoo! . . . Ah we all love this man and all of our investigators.  [This investigator] really inspires me to be more devoted and converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ - to living it to the fullest.

A few thoughts from Conference:

• Look Up and Listen Up
• God Speaks
• The most important part of your service is your personal spiritual preparation.  Prepare yourself, prepare your lesson (plan), then be willing to let go and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
• Invite: If every member of the church were to reach out to ONE person between now and Christmas, MILLIONS would be touched.

I hope and pray that all of you were able to enjoy the blessing of General Conference - of listening to God Speak.  I know He does.  I would also add my invite to the one given above.  Please reach out to at least one person!  One of my favorite songs that has inspired me since high school says :

"I've never been the kind to testify.  I don't have the words His truth deserves.  But it's a simple thing He asks: a worthy heart and willing hands.  He says if I'll make the choice, He'll help me find my voice.  He calls me to serve and I cannot fail Him - the one who has given me all that I have.  I place my trust in him alone.  He knows the yearnings of my soul.  Because He believes in me I will go willingly.  How can I keep this gift to myself when I could lift somebody else?  I am a witness of His miracles and His mercies.  I put my future in His hands, knowing He's made me all I am!  I place my trust in Him and truth begins to speak.  His power is real.  It moves me until I will not be still."

I know that the Lord will direct you as you strive to reach out to someone around you.  He will let you know how, but you must take that step of faith. :)  I love you all so much!  Keep the faith and remember who you are!  May THE force be with you as you Listen Up!

Keep On and Listen Up :)

Hello everyone!

The mission in Mississippi is doing very well!  This last week was a little bit slower with adjusting to four people in the apartment, not having a car for half of the week, and trying to figure out our new areas since we have two sets of sisters.  That has been one of the hardest things this week.  Most of you know how I am with decisions, and President has basically left this decision up to us four, along with the guidance of our zone leaders and district leader.  It has been tough!  FYI, our area is a diagonal oval shape going from NW to SE.  It's about 50 miles from the NW to the SE tip and about 20-30 miles wide going down.  It's pretty large!  So it's been an emotional roller coaster considering all of our current investigators and thinking of having to stop teaching some of them so that the other sisters can teach them, but I know that is part of missionary work.  For that reason especially, it has been slow - because we don't have our areas officially decided yet.  So we haven't done much tracting this week, but it was still a really good week!

First of all, [our 12 yr old investigator] was baptized this Saturday!  And he was confirmed and received the Aaronic priesthood on Sunday.  We were so happy for him!  I do feel bad because his baptism wasn't very well attended, and I ended up having to play the piano, plus I was asked to give the talk on baptism, but I think he still enjoyed it because he was the most energetic I've ever seen him.  And I could see in his Mom's eyes how happy she was that he wanted to be baptized and was taking that step.  [This young man] is being such a great example for his 2 older brothers, and his mom.  They hadn't been to church in a while, but his mom has started bringing him since we started teaching him and they are a great family.  I hope that we can help them out as we continue to visit with them!

Also, I need to tell you about one of our neighbors that we have started teaching.  Sister Walker had the courage to walk up to [some] guys who were outside of an apartment in our complex a couple weeks ago.  One of them has become interested in finding out more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We have visited with him about 4 times now and he has done some reading in the Book of Mormon, was going to come to church but for good reasons wasn't able to make it, and wants so much to watch general conference this weekend.  . . . He is a great guy . . . with 2 sweet, cute kids.  He lives with them and their mother.  He's also a great cook and has cooked dinner for us twice.  Anyways, he has so much potential and I really hope that he finds some answers as he watches conference this weekend.  He agrees with a lot of the things we're telling him, but gets hung up on a few things - mainly the prophet.  So here's praying and hoping!  Also, fun happy moment with [this investigator] - he was asking about being sealed and asked if it was possible to be sealed to people who weren't your family.  We explained how technically we are all related, so if everyone got sealed to their families than we would all technically be sealed, then we asked why.  He said because I would want to be sealed to you four because you are all the definition of what good friends are.  That really melted my heart to see that he always wanted to be around us because of how good, kind, fun, and happy we are compared to a lot of the friends he has had.  He even scheduled to meet with us on a Friday night because he knew that his friends would be drinking and he wanted to start getting away from that.  Like I said, a great guy with a lot of potential!

We also had fun going to Richland days on Saturday and passing out a few cards to people as we went around the park and checked out different booths.  It was a much more fun way of talking to people and getting our faces out there than tracting and knocking on people's doors.

The Relief Society General Broadcast was also very good!  It was a lot different in the church though because the four of us misisonaries and one other sister in the ward were the only ones who came to the church to watch it.  Hopefully all of you sisters out there were able to watch it!

Well I am so excited for General Conference this weekend!  Please please please give some time to listen to our prophets and apostles this weekend!  It is SO important.  A lot of people out here - including members - don't realize or understand the great importanct and blessing of having a modern day living prophet and apostles to give us the guidance from the Lord.  The Lord lives and will be speaking to us this weekend if we will listen - listen Up.  I can promise you that.  I love you all so much!  Don't ever forget who you are and that you are loved!

May THE force be with you all!  And don't forget to listen Up :)

Transfer 3

So we have four sisters in Florence now!  Sister Ray is joining us and will be Sister Meek's companion.  She has been in Shreveport, Louisiana since she got here, and she has been out 1 transfer more than me (3 complete transfers).  All four of us will be staying in the same apartment, but we will be split into 2 companionships.  So Sister Walker and I will be companions!  I'm REALLY excited!!  We will be able to do so much more work now!  It's awesome!  And yes, we all fit very comfortably.  Our apartment is really pretty nice and has 2 bedrooms (each with a closet) and 2 bathrooms (each with a shower), plus a good size living room and kitchen.  Sister Ray is from South Jordan, Utah and is super nice and sweet.  I love her already!

Talking about our apartment, we are going to have it ozoned in about 2 weeks - probably conference weekend - to try to get all of the smoke smell out.  That means we will be out of our apartment and staying with some members for 2 days, but it will work out great if it's conference weekend!  We're also super excited because we got 2 new beds!!  No more air mattress! Haha that thing really has treated us well, but it is super nice to have a bed for all of us now. :)  AND we were told that we should be getting a washer and dryer in our apartment in the next two weeks!!  WAHOO!!  That will help us out so much!  Especially now that we will have four sisters to do laundry.  Laundry is half of our p-day right now because we have to go to members homes to do it.  Thankfully we have 4 members really close to each other so we can usually use at least two of them at the same time, but it still takes a good 3 hours at least to get it all done.  Then we go grocery shopping together (like I did in college ;).  And then we try to head to the library to email.  So there's a little typical p-day run-down for ya'll! :)

Now about the car. :) The car share is ending with the elders.  Poor elders....I really do feel bad.  They only got it for one week and now they aren't going to get it anymore because President decided to make them a biking area and have a car share with the four sisters.  However, at the moment none of us have a car.  It's in the shop because the transmission was slipping.  We have no idea how long it will be there, but it's been there since Friday morning, and they hadn't even looked at it when the senior missionary who is the vehicle coordinator checked with them on Saturday.  So we're using our bikes and a lot of members right now - the members are great!

We've been getting a lot more referrals from members in the past 2 weeks, which has been awesome.  We've also received 2 media referrals!  People talk about the commercials on TV quite a bit.  It's great!  We haven't been able to contact all of the referrals yet, but it's been exciting to have so many come in when we were lucky to get 1 in a week.  There is some potential with some of them and I'll keep you posted as we continue teaching them.  As far as the people we're already teaching, we're plannning on [a young man] being baptized this Saturday!  I hope it goes through, but I am just a little hesitant that it may not.  He's been doing really well with not drinking tea though, and his mom did bring him to sacrament meeting on Sunday, so we'll see.  He's a great kid, but watching both him and [another young man] with their families has made me realize how important families are and how important the small things are - which I think I talked about in my last letter.  Those really are what make the difference!  I've seen people out here who were very active, strong in the gospel, had callings of leadership, in some cases return missionaries, and had good lives, yet now they are no longer active, and some don't even believe the gospel is true anymore.  I've asked myself how this can happen - how is it possible?  Right and wrong really do become blurry when you are not in your scriptures everyday, not praying everyday, and not going to church every week.  "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass." (Alma 37:6)  So keep going!  Keep reading!  And keep praying!  I'd also add that you bear your testimony often.  And that doesn't have to be in sacrament meeting in front of a large crowd.  That can be in a conversation with a family member or friend, in a family home evening, or even in writing in your journal at times.  That too strengthens your faith and firmness in what you know and believe.  I've noticed that it's the investigators who do those simple things that progress the most, the fastest, and the deepest.  You can tell who is ready for the gospel of Jesus Christ because they don't argue, they ponder.  They don't ask questions to bash, they ask to receive answers.  They don't just nod their heads and say "that sounds nice", they feel and get excited and desire more.  It has made me look at my life and wonder, how am I receiving God's word for me?  Am I really taking to heart the things that are being taught to me?  Or am I saying, that sounds nice...maybe someday I'll try that out or see if I can.  A member in our ward shared a Mormon Message with us this week on one of Elder Eyring's talks about the dangers of "someday."  It was powerful and I would highly recommend looking it up on Mormonchanel.org.

With one of our zone leaders going home this week and [another elder] from our area going home next transfer, it's got me thinking about time....am I counting time?  Or am I making time count?  I won't share too much more on that because I already shared a ton of other thoughts I've had, but I would invite you all to ponder that question. :)

Getting back to our investigators, [one of our investigator couples] came to a church tour on Wednesday night with their three boys and they really enjoyed it!  Especially the boys because they were able to do scouts while they were there!  Sadly, they didn't show up to church on Sunday, even though [the husband] said he took off work and everything.  Not sure why they didn't come, but hopefully it's nothing more than business.  We love them so much and I really want to see them continue to progress.  I realized that I forgot to tell ya'll last time that [the wife] told us that she received an answer that Joseph Smith really did have the experience he had in seeing God the Father and Jesus Christ.  She knows it's true!  That moment reminded me of the movie "The Best Two Years" because they way she started out it sounded like she was going to say something not so good, but it was super good!  So I have great hope for [this couple] and their family!  They are all wonderful and I can't wait to see where they are in the next few weeks!

We also celebrated Sister Walker's birthday yesterday!  She is now 20!  We didn't do much, but we did sing to her to wake her up, and got her a small gift of nail polish.  We would have made pancakes, but realized we were out of pancake mix.  We also went to McAlisters for lunch and dinner.  Lunch was provided by a member, and dinner was supposed to be provided by a different member, but they ended up not being able to.  We decided we liked McAlister's enough though that we'd go there on our own anyways. :)  It's kind of like Zuppas, but they also have spud (baked potato) options.  I love it. :)

Ok, so I need to wrap this up, but I wanted to leave ya'll with a few fun phrases that are used often down here in Miss'ippi!  Here they are:
I'm fixin to = getting ready to/about to (I'm fixin to leave.  I'm fixin to turn 22.)
All ya'll = All of you
Mema (mee-maw) = Grandma
Papa = Grandpa
Fall out laughin = laughing really hard
Also, I think the most common drink out here besides sweet tea is koolaid.  EVERYONE drinks that out here all the time.  It's always in the refigerator of pretty much any home.  And, I LOVE grits. :)  It's basically Cream of Wheat!  It's just Cream of Corn instead!  Yum! :)

Well I love you all so much!  Hopefully this letter isn't too long, but I guess it kind of makes up for the last ones that were shorter.  Have a wonderful week!  May THE force be with ya'll!

Hello from Mississippi to Utah!

I don't have tons of time again, but I do have some good stuff to share!  We got a less active member to come to church on Sunday.  . . . We absolutely love her!  She is black and she is so fun and full of life!  She has three kids (all teens) who are just as fun, and we love them.  We also have some amazing ward members here.  One of them . . .  was almost to church on Sunday when we called her and told her we had one of our investigators (12 year old Jacob) who didn't get a ride that morning.  She dropped off her Mom and niece and went the 20-25 minutes back to where he lived to get him and bring him to church.  And she was happy to do it!  [She] is someone I truly look up to and hope to be like.  She lives the gospel with joy!  There are also many other members here who I love and admire.  It really is hard work to be a good active member here - and time consuming.  It made me realize how blessed I was back home.  Visiting teaching appointments were 30 seconds to 5 minutes away.  Out here people have visiting teachies who live 35 minutes away!  And some people have to drive that long to get to church...at 9 in the morning.  We are the only ward that meets in the building, but we always meet at 9am.  And it's worth it. :)

So funny story for the week.  We were tracting and I walked up to knock on the door.  Most doors out here have a glass door on the outside of their normal door, so I opened the glass door, went to knock on the door,.....and felt nothing but air.  Yes, I opened the door to a house pretty much like I was walking right in.  And to add to it, the lady who lived there was only a few feet away, so as I tried to slowly and quietly close the door, she was right there.  I apologized multiple times, but the look on her face told me that she wouldn't have listened to our message in the first place, but now definitely wasn't going to.  Thankfully she didn't say anything rude, but I could see it in her face and felt so bad.  I hope she runs into some other missionaries who give her a better experience :)

The rest of our investigators are progressing well, but neither [of our two main investigators] were able to come to church.  [One] was because her mom wanted her to go to church with her, and [another] because her little baby ended up running a high fever of 104.  But they are all doing really well and I know that it will only be a matter of time.

Also, President and Sister McDonough came to our ward for church yesterday!  It was fun to have them there.  We also found out that we will all be staying here next transfer!  As long as he doesn't receive any other revelation before this weekend :)  It's possible that we will get a fourth sister, but he hasn't decided yet...we will see :)  If that's the case, we will be put into 2 companionship in the same apartment.  I'll let you know next Tuesday!

The car share turned out to be a good thing in my opinion.  Yes, we did A LOT more biking, but it was good and we were able to also get more members involved.  I think it also helped the Elders a lot, and they didn't get in any accidents!  I was so happy and grateful for that!

Well I love you all and hope that you all have an amazing week!  Keep strong and remember who you are!  Heavenly Father loves You.  The Lord works by small and simple means, and I know that some of the most important small and simple means in our lives are prayer, scriptures, and church.  They make all the difference.

May THE force be with you!