Wednesday, March 28, 2012
AALLOOHHAA!! This has been a wonderful,
wonderful week! First I must say I am so
so so stoked for Logan!!!! I
seriously can't think of a better place for you to serve-you will be a bomb
missionary!!! Man you are going to do so much good Logan!! I am so blessed to
have you as an example! You will love the life of a missionary! Glad to have
you here on God's team! Next, Amy- I am glad to hear you are feeling better! I
can't wait to hear if you are having a boy or girl!! Hmm.... I think you will
have a boy? IDK but let me know for sure when you find out! And I would love to
see the ultra sound pictures too-that was so fun!! Speaking of infants how is
Calene? I can't wait to see her little baby! Alright, so Becky- I haven't heard
of the pretenders but it sounds good. What about hunger games did you see that
one? How was it? Ann- So first that made me just about cry (in a happy way)
when I read what you wrote about my cute little nephew already thinking about
where he will serve haha that is so dang cute! I think his sister is right too
you should all go : ) haha Oh and hey I tried your SD card and nothing came up
: ( so I don't know?) I will send it back and you can put some pictures and
stuff on? I would love to see the little guys! K and last thing Ann, so we have
people watch Mormon messages all the time at the VC and there is a way good one
about being a mom. It’s called Stephanie Nielson's story, would you watch it
and let me know what you think? I know you will love it! Grandma C- I looked
everywhere for the keys :( No luck. It’s
ok though, everything will work out.) We did get a spare from the mission
office so we do have our car back so that’s good. Holli- I don't know about the
Peter thing I just think if you don't say anything about it, it's probably fine
because time will just take care of itself. Cami K- I just have to say that you
are so cool! I can't wait to hear where you are going! Let me know when you
find out!
Alrighty, well this week has been so great-let me just tell you what! So we had our first lesson with our investigator which went well. We taught her the first half of the Restoration, a little about the Book of Mormon, gave her a copy, and then asked her to be baptized and she said she would in the future. So that is kinda like a luke-warm answer right? I mean I am way happy that she at least isn't opposed to the idea and that she can see it happening sometime but we really need to set a date so that she can be serious about it you know. But ya still it was good.
On Saturday it was so cool S. Chen and I got to go with a Sr. couple to the PCC to eat at the Island Feast and watch the dinner show!! That was so rad! I guess that we get to go at the first of our mission and then again at the end of our mission so that was way way fun! They are so talented and it just made me fall even more in love with the culture and the people here! I love the Polynesian people! I uploaded some pictures of that night so I hope that works.
Alright now for the miracle of the week!!!! So we went to our other investigator’s work on Wed to eat lunch and we finally were able to talk to her, which was so good, but she said that her mom has been freaking out. I guess she followed her to her RM boyfriend’s house and was yelling at both of them. And she has been putting mean things up on FB and everything. Her grandpa even said she wouldn't be his sweet heart anymore. So basically it was a really really bad situation and she said she just wants to lay low and she will call us when she wants to meet again. So we were so bummed and I couldn't see how she would ever want to be baptized now with all this going on. But the next day we were in the vc writing in our journals and I was just thinking about her and what we could do to help strengthen her faith. Because if she has a strong enough testimony she would be willing to be baptized whether or not her family approved right? Because, if she truly understood how important it is and the blessings that will come to her and her family, she would do anything to be baptized. So I was sitting there and the thought came to me, duh, it’s the Book of Mormon that helps us gain that strong testimony! So I turned to S. Looney and I said “K if she can't find time to meet with us she should at least be reading the Book of Mormon every day.” And S. Looney said “wow I was just about to say that!” haha INSPIRATION! So I called her and I was just going to leave her a message because I knew she would be at work but she answered and she said she was just about to call us. And she said she was wondering if she could see us tonight. Of course we were all about that idea and then she said “and hey you know what I have been thinking about it and my mom is never going to be ok with me getting baptized but I know it’s true and this is what I need to do. So is it ok if we do it in April?” I WAS SO SO SO HAPPY!! WOW truly a miracle! So we met with her and set a date! She is being baptized on April 14!!! That will be seriously one of the best days of my life! I just want it to hurry and come though, man it will be a relief when it’s just a done deal. I am nervous that something will try and get in the way again. But no I must have more faith! Yes this will happen! Keep praying for her!
Ok last thing I want to say is yea for General Conference! I am so excited! We are watching it at 6 am too so we will get to see it live and be doing exactly what you are all doing! That is a way cool thought!!! I am so excited to hear what the Prophet has to say! I know that he truly speaks the word of God! I just want to invite all of you to have a question in mind as you listen to conference because I know that if you do it will be answered! K well I love you soooooo much! Have a wonderful week!!! Next time you hear from me we hope our other investigator will have a baptismal date!!! I hope I hope I hope!
Love, Sister Christiansen : )
Alrighty, well this week has been so great-let me just tell you what! So we had our first lesson with our investigator which went well. We taught her the first half of the Restoration, a little about the Book of Mormon, gave her a copy, and then asked her to be baptized and she said she would in the future. So that is kinda like a luke-warm answer right? I mean I am way happy that she at least isn't opposed to the idea and that she can see it happening sometime but we really need to set a date so that she can be serious about it you know. But ya still it was good.
On Saturday it was so cool S. Chen and I got to go with a Sr. couple to the PCC to eat at the Island Feast and watch the dinner show!! That was so rad! I guess that we get to go at the first of our mission and then again at the end of our mission so that was way way fun! They are so talented and it just made me fall even more in love with the culture and the people here! I love the Polynesian people! I uploaded some pictures of that night so I hope that works.
Alright now for the miracle of the week!!!! So we went to our other investigator’s work on Wed to eat lunch and we finally were able to talk to her, which was so good, but she said that her mom has been freaking out. I guess she followed her to her RM boyfriend’s house and was yelling at both of them. And she has been putting mean things up on FB and everything. Her grandpa even said she wouldn't be his sweet heart anymore. So basically it was a really really bad situation and she said she just wants to lay low and she will call us when she wants to meet again. So we were so bummed and I couldn't see how she would ever want to be baptized now with all this going on. But the next day we were in the vc writing in our journals and I was just thinking about her and what we could do to help strengthen her faith. Because if she has a strong enough testimony she would be willing to be baptized whether or not her family approved right? Because, if she truly understood how important it is and the blessings that will come to her and her family, she would do anything to be baptized. So I was sitting there and the thought came to me, duh, it’s the Book of Mormon that helps us gain that strong testimony! So I turned to S. Looney and I said “K if she can't find time to meet with us she should at least be reading the Book of Mormon every day.” And S. Looney said “wow I was just about to say that!” haha INSPIRATION! So I called her and I was just going to leave her a message because I knew she would be at work but she answered and she said she was just about to call us. And she said she was wondering if she could see us tonight. Of course we were all about that idea and then she said “and hey you know what I have been thinking about it and my mom is never going to be ok with me getting baptized but I know it’s true and this is what I need to do. So is it ok if we do it in April?” I WAS SO SO SO HAPPY!! WOW truly a miracle! So we met with her and set a date! She is being baptized on April 14!!! That will be seriously one of the best days of my life! I just want it to hurry and come though, man it will be a relief when it’s just a done deal. I am nervous that something will try and get in the way again. But no I must have more faith! Yes this will happen! Keep praying for her!
Ok last thing I want to say is yea for General Conference! I am so excited! We are watching it at 6 am too so we will get to see it live and be doing exactly what you are all doing! That is a way cool thought!!! I am so excited to hear what the Prophet has to say! I know that he truly speaks the word of God! I just want to invite all of you to have a question in mind as you listen to conference because I know that if you do it will be answered! K well I love you soooooo much! Have a wonderful week!!! Next time you hear from me we hope our other investigator will have a baptismal date!!! I hope I hope I hope!
Love, Sister Christiansen : )
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
March 20, 2012
Aloha to the people I
love more than anything in the world!! I want you to know that I think about
all of you every day!! Ok so first I have to just say CONGRATS to Amy and
Zack!!!! Woot Woot!! I am so so so happy for you both! You will be bomb
parents! I seriously jumped up and down when I found out you were having a
baby! I am so excited to see this little one when I get home!! So so happy for
both of you! Also Becky I hope you have a wonderful birthday! I love you so so
so much! Mom thank you so much for your St. Patrick’s Day card you- are such a
gem! That was so fun to get! Holli I got your package and loved everything
about it! That was the best! Seriously made my whole day. Every day I have been
hoping that I would hear from you and I was so stoked to get your letters and I
love that locket! I will wear it always! Also I can't believe you sent me a
lock of your hair that was so great haha. You are such a nerd! I will be writing
you back shortly because I have much to say about your last letter! WOW I wish
I could just talk to you about all of that right now but don't you worry a
letter is on its way! Rick, I am so glad that you get to stay for spring
semester! I love when stuff just works out like that, you just know God has it
all planned out and takes care of us! Cami K, all I have to say is I am stoked
for you!!! You are so so great and will be awesome! I was stoked when I read
your letter about all the big things going on in your life! Dang I have such
amazing family and friends and you are all doing so many good things and I am
so proud of all the good stuff you are all doing! So many happy things you are
all letting me know about! Please keep the letters coming-I just love them so
much! I want to give a shout out to Logan as well, I was so excited to receive
a letter from you, Mr., it’s about time! haha jk But really I want you to know
I love you so much and I can't wait to hear about your call! Please, please,
please come this week!!!! I have been telling everyone you are waiting for it!
And Ann thank you for being such a good pen pal : ) A hockey game sounds real
fun haha I hope you had a great time and tell the little ones I love them so
much!
Ok so I have to be
honest this week started out a little tough because the homesickness thing hit
me really hard. And man it just gave me a whole new appreciation for all of you
that have served missions in really crazy places speaking crazy languages and
here I was sitting in Hawaii feeling down-how lame is that. I think I was just
missing you all a lot and then it was kinda a disappointing beginning of the
week. We still haven't found our keys so that was weighing on me. Our
investigator with a baptismal date, told her mom who is a diehard Catholic that
she wants to join our church and she freaked out, so our investigator came crying to us.
That was Wed. and we had a lesson planned with her for Fri. and Sun. but she
didn't show up and she hasn't returned any of our calls. We have been really
worried about her and it doesn't look like she will be getting baptized this
Sat. So that has been a major bummer. But I guess that the
Stake Pres. and owner of the place where she works called Pres. Dalton to
visit her at work and so he went to the grill with the AP's and had lunch and
talked to her. She explained to him the situation and he told her to just be
there for her mom right now and to give it some time. So at least she knows we
aren't trying to cause any problems with her family and we just care about her.
I think the reason she hasn't called us back is because she probably feels like
she will be letting us down by postponing it but we don't feel that way we just
love her and want to be there for her. So I really hope that she will call us
back. Also do you remember how I told you about the one we
met on the street. Well he never showed up to meet with us-we just stood out
there waiting haha and he hasn't answered our phone calls either. So basically
I think the combination of things was just hard but it was a very humbling week
and just like in all things, God always takes care of us, and the week got
better and better as it went on.
On Sat. we had an
amazing experience that made up for all of the stuff that happened earlier. We
were at a dinner appointment with like 6 girls. They were roommates and friends
and just really awesome. One was even an RM sister. And we were just eating and
talking and then we gave our little message and read a scripture and asked if
they knew anyone that would benefit from hearing the message of the gospel and they
said “well, she's not a member”. And we were like wait, what! haha So they had
invited their nonmember friend and we had no idea. So at first we thought they
were kidding right, because they were all laughing, but then they were like “no,
really, she isn't a member”. Then she explained that she has lived here her
whole life and has had plenty of missionaries knock on her door and has never been
interested. But I just thought, you know what the heck, I am just going to be
bold because we have been rejected so much this week what’s it going to hurt.
Haha So I just said well, would you be willing to meet with us? And she sat
there for a second and then she said ya ok. I was seriously so happy!!!! We
have set up a lesson with her for Wed. and it’s so cool because she has the
best kind of fellowshippers you can ask for. The RM is her best friend
and they are all in her ward so they will be exactly what she needs to keep
moving forward. I am so grateful for them and their willingness to keep
inviting her even after she has turned it down so many times!!
Sunday was a great day
too! We had a lot of tours at the VC and Monday was wonderful too! It was
my companion's birthday and so she kept getting packages in the mail and her
dad sent her flowers to the VC. It was just fun and for dinner we went to
one of our ward members and she fed us and we had a great lesson
with her. Then after we got home and we were done planning and stuff we had a
little birthday party thing with our two other pad mates haha. It was fun, we
had birthday cake and she opened her presents. Also today has just been
amazing! For comp study we were able to come here to the VC and watch Mormon
messages so that I could be more familiar with what to show people when they
come in, and man oh man are there some inspiring ones! Watching those videos
just made me realize how lucky and blessed I am and that there are always
people going thru something harder than I am.
I hope this letter
didn't sound like I was just sitting here complaining because I want you to
know that even with the ups and downs I really am so happy to be here and every
day gets better and better! I am finally starting to get the hang of things and
I am really starting to love it! I love you all so much! I think this quote is
so true, “missionaries leave their families for 18 months to 2 years so other
families can be together forever!" I have found this to be the reason that
I am here! As I take families through the “Heavenly Father's plan” tour and promise them that
they can live with their families forever it just brings me so much happiness!
God really does love us so much, and blessing us with a plan that allows us all
to live together is the greatest blessing ever! It's hard enough to be away
from you for just this little bit, I can't even imagine not living together forever
after this life. I love my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ, so so so
much! I am so blessed to live in beautiful Laie and to be serving the Lord! I
love my life :)
I love you all!!!!!!
Sister Christiansen :
)
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Aloha! I love you all
so much and I miss you all so much! Family and friends are the most important
thing we have! I am reminded of that all the time here as I see so many happy
families come into the VC together and as we share God's plan for them to be together
forever!
I would just like to
tell you a little about how things work around here. First off I must say this
mission feels like it was made for me. (haha) I just couldn't have asked for
anything better. I know that Heavenly Father takes care of us when we put our
trust in Him and act on faith. All the silly things I was concerned about don't
really worry me here at all. For instance remember how I was so concerned about
gaining weight because of dinner appointments? Well I don't really think that
will be a problem because we have shifts at the VC lots of nights, so most of
the time we pack our own food or members from the ward drop off food for us. It
is so nice of them! And when we aren't on shift lots of times we still have the
members just drop off food and then we share a message with them here at the VC
because we are serving in student wards so it's hard to eat at the apartments
because we can't go in the guys dorms and they are college students anyways so
it's not like they have a lot to feed us you know. (haha) That’s the other
thing that is so cool too-we are working with people our own age. This mission
truly is so unique! We work a lot with less actives and guys that we are trying
to get to put in their mission papers. There are a lot of less actives here
though, so there is a lot of work to do. But it is just so cool to see these 20
year olds wanting to make changes in their lives and being willing to meet with
us. They are really showing their desire to want to improve their lives and to
grow in their understanding of the gospel! I love meeting with them because
they are all just so awesome and it's so fun to get to teach.
I love the VC though
too because the spirit is so strong here and I feel so blessed to serve on
temple grounds! Usually how it works is we have shifts in the VC or on tram
every day for a couple hours and then we also have an hour of RC time and then
a couple hours to study and teach or find new investigators. In the VC we get
to wear those adorable blue muumuus haha and we get to keep them so that will
be sweet! But what we do is we just take people around and do tours and I
really like doing this because it gives us the opportunity to teach, testify,
invite them to make commitments, and then promise blessings to so many people
in just a short amount of time. It is also so nice to teach in the VC because
we have wonderful resources to use. It makes it a lot easier to teach too their
needs because if they are standing by the Book of Mormon display you can teach
them about that or if they are at the prophets corner you can teach about that
and so on. But I just really like that! It's so neat too because the one thing
I was sad about leaving the MTC for was not having all that personal study
time, but here when it's slow and there aren't any people we are able to just
study and ready the scriptures. I just love that! I just feel like Heavenly
Father has heard all my prayers and blessed me with the best mission ever!
Now I just want to tell you about a miracle we had this week! Ok, but first I must start with the bad news. The bad news and the cause of a lot of stress this week all started with me being really dumb and losing the car keys... I know! I feel so horrible about it and so stupid too because it was all my fault I was just carrying in the groceries from the trunk and I put the keys on the counter with all the groceries and then when we finally cleared everything they weren't anywhere to be found! The worst part is we have been looking for them for days and it is going to cost my $200 if I can't find them! Plus my Pres. and everyone probably think I'm irresponsible and scatterbrained, which to tell you the truth is how I feel right now. I feel like a chicken running around with her head cut off because there is so much to do and to know and to memorize and I don't know anything. But to make matters worse I lose the keys and it has been stressing me out all week, not to mention we have had crazy rain storms and flooding everywhere so perfect time to walk around everywhere right? haha I feel so bad for my companion because I have actually liked walking around because even when it rains it's still warm and I get to see more of Hawaii but she is probably not liking it. But, I know why Heavenly Father wanted me to lose the keys!! This is where the miracle comes in! K we have been praying so hard for a new investigator because it's so hard to find nonmembers in a BYU student ward-right-but there has to be some living in our YSA ward area so we have been praying, praying, praying and finally one morning we were walking (of course, because we have no car thanks to my stupidity) to the VC and lo and behold we see this 21 year old guy sitting at the bus stop so we start talking to him and we eventually ask to meet with him and teach him more and he actually agrees!!! And the best part is he actually lives in our area. MIRACULE! So we were way stoked! But then we tried getting a hold of him and we couldn't reach him so we started to wonder if he was just going to blow us off. But then yesterday I called him and he kept apologizing for missing us and said he has just been so busy but that he wants to meet with us this Wed!! So pray really, really hard that we will be able to touch his heart on Wed and that he will continue to meet with us! My companion and I set a goal to have two baptisms this month and we already have the investigatory I mentioned last week getting baptized on March 24 so we have to invite him to be baptized! I know that the Lord can soften his heart and help him to know that what we are teaching him is true!
Speaking of our investigator,
please keep her in your prayers too because this week she is going to tell her
mom that she is getting baptized and she is really scared to do that. Her
family is Catholic and she doesn’t think her mom will be very happy about her
decision. Also I must tell you about a very humbling experience that I had
teaching her. So here we were having a lesson with her, her boyfriend, the zone
leaders, and the stake president's wife and I share this really stupid analogy
that made sense when I heard it but when I tried to tell it, it just blew up in
my face! I'm sure I just confused her and I bet everyone was thinking why is
she telling this story instead of just sticking to the doctrine taught in
Preach My Gospel! I was so embarrassed and I just felt like I lost all their confidence
in my teaching skills. And now who knows if they will want to refer anyone to
us because they won't want me teaching weird stuff: (man oh man let’s just say
I have made so many mistakes in just my first week here but I am really hoping
that once I start to get the hang of how things work around here maybe I will
feel a little better.) It has definitely been a humbling week though. I feel
bad for my trainer too because I am probably slowing down the work because she
has to spend so much time trying to teach me instead of teaching others.
Anyways I don't mean to complain or sound negative I'm sorry if that’s how I
sound. Just know that I am learning a lot and I'm sure I will be able to do
better this week. I'll try really hard to be a better missionary this week and hopefully
not let so many people down. I think I just need more practice but once I have
taught more and once I learn all the stuff I'm supposed to say in the tours I
should be of more help.
I love the Lord and I
love you! Mahalo for all that you have done and do for me! You all mean so much
to me and it really helps me to know that there are people who love me and are
praying for me! I need all the prayers I can get haha.
You can now write me at:
55-600 Naniloa Loop
Laie Hawaii 96762
I would love to hear from all of you.
I would love to hear from all of you.
Sure love ya! Sister
C.
PS Tell Calene Happy
late Birthday and congrats on the baby shower! And if Rafe gets home this week
tell him welcome home for me k! And Logan good luck on the call! I can't wait
to hear where you are serving!!!! I really am so, so, so excited for you!
Friday, March 9, 2012
March 8, 2012
Aloooooooha!
WOW LIFE IS SOOOOO
GOOD! I have never been in a more beautiful place! Hawaii is truly amazing and
I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world! I love it here with all of my
heart! I live at what's called the "beach pad" and the ocean is literally
our backyard! I feel so undeserving! I can't believe I am living in Hawaii! Every
day I go outside and it smells like Bear Lake : ) I am sure my trainer is so
sick of hearing it but, I just keep saying, wow this is so beautiful! Because
it really is! I don't know if I'll ever get used to it! I love it too because
we just walk around in sun dresses and Hawaiian sandals : ) This is truly the
life!
Ok so my Mission President
is great. He reminds me so much of Holli's dad haha. They have so many of the
same mannerisms, their voice sounds the same, and they have the same sense of
humor haha. I love it! His wife is just awesome I love her too!
My trainer is amazing.
I love her! She is from California, she is beautiful, she is sooooo nice, she
is so easy going but she is also a really hard worker and has great goals to do
a lot of good! She went to BYU, her parents are both remarried and so she has a
big blended family that she loves so much and she is just teaching me so much!
I am so grateful for her! I would be so lost if I didn't have her!
The first night we got
to Hawaii we had the coolest experience; we were able to go to a baptism right
away! It was amazing! The whole family is from Fiji and has been members (except
the dad) for ten years. The sisters were able to work with the family and finally
the dad converted and so we rushed over to his baptism! It was so great! We
have been running around everywhere! It has been so crazy busy trying to get
trained in everything including the VC stuff but I love it so much! I am so
grateful that I get to serve here I feel like the luckiest girl in the world!
Ok and the greatest
thing ever! After a way long first day in Honolulu of getting trained they had
us go out on the street for 20 min and talk to people and it was so cool
because we started talking to this lady who was sitting down for lunch and she
said she wanted us to come teach her children! She has 5 children!!! So we got
her address and we are going to send missionaries in her area over to her! It
was so cool! Then when we got to Laie my trainer said we had a lesson scheduled
that night with a girl who had just committed to baptism last week!!! It was so
much fun teaching her!! She is our age and she is adorable! So fun! Her
boyfriend is an RM and so we taught her with him and another one of his RM
friends! They are all so cool! (For Holli- they are definitely the hipster type
I can see you hanging out with them if you were still going to BYUH. Also Holli
what ward were you in because my area is the YSA 2nd, BYU1st and BYU19th?) How
cool is that, too, that we get to serve in the student wards! Ok so back to the
young woman, she is GOLDEN! She is so excited about her baptism and she is just
beaming whenever she talks about it! She is amazing-she is so excited to read
the Book of Mormon and she loves everything we have to teach her! I love her so
much!
I love being a
missionary, can I just say that! People are so nice to us! Everywhere we go
people wave, and honk! The people here are just so so so incredibly nice!
I love the VC too! It’s
so fun to meet so many people from all over and it’s so cute, you will get the
people from Japan that want you in their pictures just because you're in a blue
mumu haha. This is the best time of my life! I love it! And we can go to the
PCC any P-day for free-how amazing is that! So lots of times I guess they will
just go to a show a week :) How awesome is that!
Ok well I wish I could
just tell you everything but there is too much to type, but just know that I am
having the time of my life!
Well real quick: first I want to thank you,
Mom and the YW, for the package that was so so so nice of all of you! I am
going to send a card your way so be looking for that and if you could just take
it with you to church one Sunday so the girls could read it that would be
great! Thanks Mom! And just so you know today we just had pday because it was a
weird schedule but normally my pday will be on Tue. So sorry it has been so
weird lately! Also Dad thank you so much for the letter, I loved everything you
had to say and don't you worry I am going to work real hard! My trainer and I
have already set some high goals for baptisms and we are just going to go out
there and talk to everyone and find those the Lord has prepared!
K well got to run-we
are on shift for the VC at six and then we have a lesson at 7:30. But just so
you all know, I love you so so so much and I am so grateful for all your
letters and email and I am sorry that I haven't been able to write you all back-
it is just sooooo busy here but I love you I love you I love you! And I love
being a missionary!
Love Sister C.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
We just spoke -it was so great to talk to her. Here are a few of the things she told me:
She is so excited to be wearing a name tag and going out in to the world to meet so many wonderful people. In fact, she said she wakes up every morning and thinks "Wow, I'm on a mission!
She was lucky to be able to see her roommate Julie in the MTC-they got to sit together at "Movie Night" while watching Legacy. She said Alex Boye spoke at a fireside and shared his conversion story. She said that before the Relief Society Meetings on Sundays the missionaries share their conversion stories - two sisters each week which have been so touching and amazing.
This past Sunday President Brown talked about the Atonement and his explanation was so powerful and taught her so much. It really strengthened her testimony.
She also said that she felt like she was always running and there was always so much more to do. She did talk her group into having class outside yesterday when the weather was so nice. You know her-she needs to be outside.
Because they are so busy she felt bad that she was not able to write back to all of you who have written her - they are just so busy in the MTC that there is not time for letter writing. But she loves letters and wants you all to keep writing and she plans to have time to write on her p-days. So, she asked that we please keep the letters coming.
Thanks for all your support - we so appreciate all her family and good friends. I will update her address as soon as I hear if it changes.
She is so excited to be wearing a name tag and going out in to the world to meet so many wonderful people. In fact, she said she wakes up every morning and thinks "Wow, I'm on a mission!
She was lucky to be able to see her roommate Julie in the MTC-they got to sit together at "Movie Night" while watching Legacy. She said Alex Boye spoke at a fireside and shared his conversion story. She said that before the Relief Society Meetings on Sundays the missionaries share their conversion stories - two sisters each week which have been so touching and amazing.
This past Sunday President Brown talked about the Atonement and his explanation was so powerful and taught her so much. It really strengthened her testimony.
She also said that she felt like she was always running and there was always so much more to do. She did talk her group into having class outside yesterday when the weather was so nice. You know her-she needs to be outside.
Because they are so busy she felt bad that she was not able to write back to all of you who have written her - they are just so busy in the MTC that there is not time for letter writing. But she loves letters and wants you all to keep writing and she plans to have time to write on her p-days. So, she asked that we please keep the letters coming.
Thanks for all your support - we so appreciate all her family and good friends. I will update her address as soon as I hear if it changes.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
March 2, 2012
So I got to have two
P-days this week! How great is that! The VC training has P-days on Fridays so I
lucked out! And I am so so glad because, to be honest, it's getting really hard
to sit in these classes. haha I am so ready to leave! I am stoked to go to Hawaii!
But anyways, let me
just say that Heavenly Father loves us and dreams come true : ) For my last
devotional on Tuesday- guess who spoke! The one and only: Elder Holland! How sweet
is that! He is my favorite speaker! He is so powerful and always motivates you
to want to be better! It was so cool too because right before devotional
started my district was talking about who they thought it would be and some of
them said “word on the street is Pres. Monson is speaking” (which is the word
on the street every Tue. haha). But we started saying who we hoped it would be
and I said "Oh I just hope its Elder Holland, that would make my heart so
happy!" and then walks in Elder Holland!!! How awesome is that! And not
only did my favorite speaker talk, but for the musical number the choir sang
"Come thou Fount!!!" I don't know how many of you know this, but that
is be far my FAVORITE song! Wow- I was just feeling so loved! It was a very
blessed experience haha : ) And man oh man did he call us to repentance. haha He
just kept talking about how we have no right to compromise the image that
everyone has of what a missionary should be. And how we should be changed so
much from our mission and that when we get home we should never go back to
being what we were before we left. I just loved how he talked about his mission
too, he kept saying how his mission has had a greater impact on him and has
changed him more than any other mission has changed someone before and I just
kept thinking wow I don't know what
kind of experiences he had out there but I want to make my mission mean just as
much to me as his does to him! His talk really made me realize how much I need
to step it up and give it my all and I just need to figure out what I can do to
really have my mission change me the way his changed him. I wish you all could
have heard him speak because it was just amazing and exactly what I needed to
hear right before I go out in the field!
Also another tender
mercy this week.... I got to see JAN!!! Highlight of my day on Wed for sure!!!
It was so great I just cried when I saw her! I just love that girl so much and
she is doing so great out there! She is so happy : ) I was going through the
God's plan for us video and when I stepped out lo and behold Jan was there
waiting to see me! It was so great, especially because I was missing my
companions and it was just so nice to see a familiar face! I really really hope
I will get to see her again on Sat!
Another sweet part
about the VC Training is that we get to work in the referral center! Wow- talk
about our church tapping into its resources! The church is so high tech! Here
we are in Provo UT chatting with a girl from Georgia! She has been taking a
religion class at college and they are talking about Mormonism so she decided
she would check out Mormon.org and she got on chat and just started asking us
questions about God! So cool! It’s so amazing to me that when I am working in
the VC in Hawaii I will also be teaching people from all over the world thru
chat and on the phone! Missionary work has gone far beyond knocking on doors,
let me just say that! I will even have an online area book so I can keep
meeting with the same investigators and teach them up until baptism and then
some lucky Elder in their area just shows up for the first time and has a
baptism! haha I love this work and I love that people are building the Kingdom
all over the world in all sorts of different ways!
Oh I wanted to tell
you really quick that I found out I will be coming home on July 23. (haha) I
know it’s a little early to talk about that seeing as I haven't even left but I
just found out so.... Grandma C- that might be around Bear Lake time. haha I
hope I don't mess up any plans but I would love to get to come for the last
couple of days when I get back ; )
Ok so I have been
learning a little about what I will be doing in the VC and it almost reminds me
of being a tour guide in Disneyland. haha I get to drive people on the trams to
and from the PPC and the VC and I just get to meet people from all over and
talk to them and I am just so excited! I can't tell you how bad I want to get
going!
I am about out of time
but really quick I want you to be looking for a Hermna Turner from San Diego. She
is in VC training with me and she is serving in the IF VC! How cool is that! So
look for her some time when you're in the temple VC! OK
Well I love you and I
will call you on Tue morning! ps the Work CD may be in the pocket behind your
seat in the Van? Sorry to make you look all over the place for that! I love you
all soooooooooo much you just have no idea! I miss you like crazy but I know
that this is exactly where the Lord wants me and I am so grateful that He has
blessed me with this opportunity to serve!
Love ya!
Sister C.
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