letter.thirty 10.22.13 "love changes everything"

 

No worries, she wasn't going anywhere without a helmet, just in the church parking lot.

I can't believe this transfer has come and gone. I feel like I just got here with Sister L. This has been BY FAR my favorite transfer. I honestly don't know how any other transfer could beat it. I feel so blessed. When I found out about this transfer I wasn't looking forward to it, but turns out God knew MUCH better than I did. I have loved my district. We have such a good time together and we all work really hard. It's been amazing. More than anything else this transfer though, I have loved serving with Sister L. We are best friends and she has been just what I needed. She has loved me for me and has helped me really be the crazy weirdo I really am. We have found so much joy in the work together.

 

Como District on a P-day.

One of the best parts of the week was during comp inventory; she told me that I was her favorite companion. It's something that doesn't matter too much, but it meant a lot to me, because I love her so much and to feel the love reciprocated was an amazing feeling. I have been praying all week that I would be able to accept God's will for transfers. I didn't think we'd get separated though because we've only been together one transfer. Wrongo Bongo.

On Saturday we got a call from the assistants. They chatted for a second and then they asked if I would talk to them and take it off loudspeaker... my heart dropped. I didn't want to be split up. Then they told me that God wanted me to be a trainer this next transfer. Honestly, I was shocked. I didn't even think of that as a possibility. I knew as they said it though, that it was God's will. I know this is what He wants and needs to happen in this next transfer. I'm very thankful I know that because otherwise I would have been too sad.

Even with that confirmation from the Spirit, when I got off the phone and told Soa (comp in Samoan, that's what we call each other) that we were getting split up, we both bawled our eyes out and just hugged each other for 10 minutes straight. I am going to miss her soo much. I'm trying to soak up every last minute I have with her. It's been the greatest six weeks of my mission, but I know that God will continue to bless both of us with what we need and with opportunities to grow and I'm thankful for that. I'm leaving it all in His hands, because Heaven knows you can't trust my judgment.:)

I know that I also am not good enough to train someone, but God is. I am praying that I will be able to love this new sister with all my heart and help her feel happy, loved, and a desire to work hard. It's going to be a great transfer, not because I'm good, but because God is good and we will have to rely on Him.

We've also had many miracles this week. We found 3 new 'gators! All of which were miracles. We spent a whole two days biking our booties off. We basically ran out of k's and we had to bike for an hour one way to get to several appointments. It was fun though. We laughed about it a lot, but because we've been on bikes it means we have a lot less time to actually teach because we have to book in a lot of time for travel. But God blessed us. One of them was especially miraculous. A man just walked into church on Sunday saying he passed by and wanted to learn more. He stayed for Sunday school and we scheduled an appointment to see him this week! Ah! How cool is that?! God truly is hastening His work. God is good to us. 

It's been a beautiful last week together and you better believe we're going to live up these last few days by working hard as I can! I will be eternally grateful for this transfer and Sister L and how she has changed me. God is good to me. 

I love you all and I’m praying for you. Thank you all for your love and supports. 

letter.twenty.nine 10.14.13 "to love another person is to see the face of God"

Well another amazing week has come and gone. I honestly can't believe that we're on the last week of the transfer. This has been the fastest and best transfer of my mission. I honestly don't know how it could ever get better than this. The reason this week was so good was because of Taylor. She is incredible. I feel so blessed to have been a part of her path to eternal life. The last few days we had together were beautiful. We had wonderful studies together and I was able to help teach her how to study on her own so that when she went home she would be able to continue.

 

Sister Tanner, her district and their mini missionaries.

The best part was the closing fireside. We all went down to Mandurah where they had a testimony meeting where everyone could share about their experiences. I asked Taylor if she wanted to bear her testimony and she was pretty hesitant. I told her I wouldn't force her, although I wanted to:) I felt like her mum. ha ha When the meeting was coming to the end I felt prompted to tell her that if she wanted we could go up together and bear our testimonies at the same time and that I would hold her hand. She seemed a bit unsure still but then she finally agreed. I told her that she could pray and ask God for help and to imagine that it was just she and I in the room because she'd born her testimony to me so many times.

So we went up on the stand to wait for our turn, I looked over at her and realized that she was praying. I felt this immense love for her and God's love for her. Then we went up and we took each other's hands. She wanted me to start and finish it. So I start speaking and I couldn’t help but put my arm around her and cry as I introduced her and her experience. Then she very simply and powerfully bore her testimony of Joseph Smith and The Restoration and then told them all that she wanted to baptized. I then finished it off, I had to make it real short because I was crying and my heart was about to burst. I have never felt that happy and grateful. It was beautiful. As we went to sit down again and she turned to me and said, "I asked God to help me and He did! I was able to do it because He was helping me and you and I were doing it together."

 

Sister Tanner, her companion and their mini missionaries.

Honestly, if nothing else happened on my mission it would all be worth it for Taylor. She and I decided that we are going to be next-door neighbors in the Celestial Kingdom. I love her with all my heart. She should be getting baptized soon. She's just waiting to find out when her dad can come. She wants me to sing at her baptism and she doesn’t even live in my zone so I had to ask special permission, but President said it would good for me to go. I am so thankful. I wouldn't want to miss her baptism for anything. “My cup runneth over.”

I also LOVED general conference. It was amazing to me that questions that I have been wondering about for my whole mission were answered so directly. It was a beautiful and revelatory experience. I loved the focus on missionary work and families. That's what we're all about!

One of the very specific things that I felt during one of the talks was how blessed I am to have the parents that I have; who have given me the opportunity to see a marriage that works well, not because either of them are perfect, but because they both put God first. I also felt very specifically that I need to follow mum's example. I have been so blessed to have a woman of faith and covenants as my mother. Mum I love you and I am so thankful for your example of being the kind of woman that God wants you to be. I love you. I also am thankful for you Dad. You always demonstrate the proper way to treat woman and to uphold the Priesthood. I don't know what I'd do without you.

Sorry for getting all mushy on you all... conference makes me miss all of you. I actually suggested that all the sisters make soup for the zone because conference didn't feel right with out some kind of food involved. Oh man, another favorite moment of mine was when the family choir sang "Love at home." Oh man, I bawled. It reminded me of mum and then there was even a cute old man who sang like grandpa. That's when I really lost it. Then there was that adorable little girl who sang with all her heart, just like Livy does. It made me feel so much love for all of you. Turns out it's a bummer to miss your family, but that's ok. I'm back into the swing of things now.

We had an investigator come to conference! She is amazing! She loved it. She said after that she felt a different feeling in this church then she has in any other church. She said that she felt that the people spoke truth. She is so open and receptive to the Spirit. I am excited to get to know her better. While she was waiting for her ride, she and I were able to have a good talk. We are very similar in a lot of ways. She's one of those people that I clicked with instantly. It was amazing. I don't know why God is blessing me so much, but I am so thankful. I have found so many kindred spirits on my mission. It's just a testimony to me that this is where I am supposed to be serving.

I am so thankful to be a missionary. I still can't believe I thought about not coming. This is just so right for me. I love it. It's hard, tiring and frustrating sometimes, but more importantly, it is rewarding, uplifting, and sacred. I am so thankful that God softened my heart so that I could have this remarkable experience. I was reminded again in conference of how much I needed this in order to be prepared for the future, I'm starting to see that even more now. I love The Plan of HAPPINESS. It really does make me happy. It's the way to ultimate joy in eternity and NOW. I can feel it. I have felt a glimpse of eternity as I have seen God's precious daughters learn of Him and come to know

Him. It also helps me see, even more, that He knows ME. Truly, "to love another person is to see the face of God." I'm so blessed.

I love you all more than ever! Thank you for your love, support and prayers!

letter.twenty.eight 10.07.13 ^a once in a lifetime opportunity^

I have had the most incredible past few days. First of all, I LOVED the temple. It gave me a whole new perspective. I am so thankful for the revelation that comes through temple attendance. I'm also especially grateful for the power that comes from it. I felt that power in my life this past week. I have had more self-discipline and been able to be much more in tune with the Spirit, which is exactly what I needed for these past few days.

After the temple we got great news that we would be receiving a mini missionary! Most missionaries don't even get to have one mini missionary experience let alone two! I feel so blessed! They told us we would just be getting one girl and she would be in a trio with us and that she would be from my old stake.

 

Waiting for our mini missionaries with the assistants.

Naturally, we were thrilled! So we get down there (to the train station) and we're waiting to find out who is with us and the assistants get up to announce companionships. They finally get to us and it turns out that we were actually getting two; my companion would be with Tori, the girl whose baptism I sang at not too long ago! I was so excited! I love her! She and I have gotten real close. Then, I found out that I would be with her friend Taylor who is not a member. Yes, ladies and gentlemen you read that correctly, NOT a member. She had only been to church once. In her life. She hadn't even really been religious. She just felt she was supposed to go on this mini mission with Tori because she wants to change her life! Can you say GOLDEN?!?!

With our mini missionaries.

What other missionary can say that they got to bring an investigator to live with them for 5 days? Yeah, not many. She is amazing. I feel so blessed. We still go out and teach even though she literally didn't know anything before we came. I have been teaching her in every spare minute that we have. She is asking amazing questions and is so open to learning. She keeps telling me that she knows she's here for a reason.

I wish I had time to tell you everything about her. She is beautiful and she is just starting to believe in God and know that He is there. She has already had so much experience with the Spirit, she just didn't know it until now. She says the most beautiful prayers and this has been her first time praying. She has been reading the Book of Mormon and she LOVED church.  I cannot even describe how much I love her.

On Sunday we do our studies at night because church is during our normal study times. Taylor and I were studying together and it was one of the best conversations I have ever had. I feel so uplifted from her. I was fasting and praying that I would be able to follow the Spirit and teach her how she needed, since this is a very unique situation and let me tell you, the Spirit has been leading all of our conversations. It has been amazing.

When we were talking Sunday night we talked about God and how He knows and loves us individually. We talked about prayers and how to make them more sincere. I felt God's love for her so strongly that it brought tears to my eyes. It was a beautiful hour that we had and one that I will never forget. I was able to testify of the reality of the Atonement and that through baptism we can be clean. She wants to be baptized and not just for the sake of it, but because she really wants to change her life for the better. She is amazing. She is a beautiful example of courage, faith, and love.

We also had an amazing personal and companionship study this morning where we were able to read 2 Nephi 31 together. It was the picture perfect lesson. We were discussing what each verse meant for her personally. She recognizes the Spirit so well. She kept saying that she has been feeling an amazing happy feeling and like this is just right. I was able to testify that that is the Spirit. She is so excited to get baptized. She doesn't say “if” anymore, but “when”. She said again this morning that she knows we were supposed to meet each other and that now as she looks back she can see that God has been a part of her life always.

We also discussed the commandments and she loved them. She is so anxious to do everything that God wants her to do and she also told me this morning that she wants to serve a mission someday because she has loved it so much. I don't ever want to give her back! I love her!

I am so blessed to be able to have this once in a lifetime experience. After our study last night we both looked at each other and we knew we would never forget each other as we both teared up. She will always hold a special place in my heart. She thinks that I have uplifted her, but in truth, she's the one that's done the uplifting. She is God's beautiful gift of an eternal friend to me.

In other good news! I had my first baptism... well kind of. It wasn't “mine” at all, but a woman that my trainer and I found and then Sister F and I taught and set a date with got baptized on Saturday. Apparently the baptism was beautiful. The assistants texted me to tell me that she was so happy and that she mentioned me in her testimony. How adorable is that? Of course Satan tried to twist this by making me feel bad that I wasn't there for the end of her teaching and that I will never see anyone progress from finding to baptism, but then I reminded myself, that I don't care about that. I just want to bring souls closer to Christ. If I never see someone through the whole process from finding to baptism, so be it, as long as I'm bringing people closer to Christ.

I feel so overwhelmingly blessed this week. God has been so good to me. Lata getting baptized, Taylor being my mini missionary, Tori coming to stay with us as well, and my testimony being strengthened daily. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that He knows us on a personal and individual level. He knew I needed Taylor in my life right now and I am so thankful for that.

I love you all. Thank you for the love, support and prayers. It means the world to me. I'm praying for you all.

letter.twenty.seven 10.04.13 ^too blessed to be stressed^

What a week and a half it has been! Whew! It's been the best week ever, but first let me apologize that I didn't write yesterday like I said I would. Our P-day was supposed to be yesterday, but President changed it again so we can go to the temple! That's right folks, today I get to go to the temple. When we found out I nearly cried I was so excited. Dad you'll be happy to know that I'm much more excited for this than I ever was for any of the Harry Potter movies to come out;) haha. I can barely wait! I love the temple.

 

At the temple.

But anyways, this past week was miraculous. One of my favorite experiences was a lesson with a mother and son we're teaching. I have been trying to be more careful recently that I teach by the Spirit instead of just getting into the routine of teaching and as we were teaching them I was really trying to focus on what the Spirit wanted me to say instead of what my brain thought was best or should normally come next. The lesson was going well and I felt prompted to try to set a baptismal date with them, so I did. And she said no, but then she proceeded to tell all of these reasons why she wasn't ready for it yet. Some of which are things that are very close to her heart. She was telling us things that neither of us could relate to and I had no clue what to say to comfort her as she wept. I prayed very fervently to know what to say and it was an amazing experience. The Spirit told me basically word for word what to say to her, I can't even remember everything I said to her because it wasn't me talking. I was just the conduit that God to speak to one of His beloved daughters and because I let go of myself and I wasn't the one teaching the Spirit was so strong. We were all crying by the end of the lesson and we had gained so much more trust and love for these wonderful people. It was a blessing to be a part of that experience. It's clear evidence that I am nothing without God, but that with God all things are possible.

We also were able to find.... wait for it... 10 new investigators!!!!! 6 of those “newies” were on one day! (And it was the same day we found out we were going to be able to go to the temple.) I about died I was so happy that day. Oh my heck it was so great. Everyone was asking us how we found that many in one day, but that’s just it, it really wasn't us. Yes, we did our part and we talked with EVERYONE. We biked pretty much the whole week, which meant that we were able to talk to so many more people and we were bold and invited everyone to learn. We got a lot of “no's” but also a lot of “yeses”! Four of the six new investigators was an Indian family that just moved here a week ago. It was amazing. I have been praying and fasting for a family to teach and now we have one! We were very blessed this week!

We also went on exchanges, which I always love. I learned a lot from Sister A and we enjoyed the work as well. We were able to find a miracle new investigator. We were talking to someone at a bus stop and then when we finished with him we were about to walk away when a man asked us what our badges were for, so, we told him. Turns out he has been looking for a church and for a way to know God better because his wife is very sick and his son just died. It was incredible to see how much God loved this man, so much that we were there just when he needed it. God definitely led us there. It was an awesome experience.

I am loving my district and companion more and more everyday. They are all amazing missionaries and we all work really hard and we have a good time too. It's been just what I have needed. God knows me so perfectly and He ministers to me perfectly, most often through the scriptures and through other people. What a blessing to have a loving Heavenly Father who is involved in the details of our lives.

I wish I had time to write more, but we're cut short today because of the temple, but I love you all. I know that this work is truly God's work. I feel so blessed to be a part of it. I have never been happier than I am right now because I have never been so close to my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am eternally grateful for His love and sacrifice for me and for the tender mercies He pours on me everyday. I love you my dearest familia! I am praying for you:)