Consecration Brings Miracles

Hey Friends and Family!!

Happy Birthday Price and Laura Olsen last week! I look up to the way you play with your kids Price and Laura, well you are just too cute!!! Thank you for being my cousin! Happy Birthday Anna Pearce! I look at your cute little note you wrote that my mom put in my things all the time. You were very inspired to write what you did... Thank you!! Hope you have a good day!

This week we had both zone training and new missionary meeting. We did a little biking as well! When I said the miles were out I over exaggerated a little:) We had fun biking! This week was particularly warm for this time of year. Saturday was a high of 77 degrees! Because the weather is very unpredictable here everyone talks about it. Usually small talk about the weather would make situations awkward but here it is the basis for a lot of conversations. It makes me laugh. The leaves are changing now and with the good weather, it seemed almost everyone was in a good mood!

This week we met with our 15 year old investigator, Leslie. The last two times we met with Leslie, we talked to her about the value virtue. There are about 6 value experiences in Personal Progress I believe. We discussed, in detail, one of them and introduced the second. When we met again with her this week, she told us she had finished all the value experiences in Virtue. She loves the Lord and his work! She is a great example to me. I know we will always keep in contact. It is neat for me to hear her talk about her conversion to the Lord with such perspective. Leslie's family is from Mexico and doesn't speak English really well. We also visit a less active family once in a while, also from Mexico. The mom and three of the seven kids have been baptized. We had breakfast with them last week and the mom said that  her daughter,  who has been baptized and is 15,  feels nervous going to Young Women’s because she doesn't have any friends there. Well….Leslie's family is from Mexico too. Just like the less active's father, Leslie’s father is also catholic. We felt instantly inspired after talking with them that we should set the two families up. We hope we can reactivate one family while bringing another family into the Church! The Lord has an amazing plan! I feel lucky to be a part of making it happen!

Sister Smith and I tracted into a woman on a rainy day named Pam a few months ago. She let us into her house and we chatted. She was very kind to us. We weren't able to share the message of the Restoration but we were grateful to have met someone so kind! We took her a letter a week later expressing our gratitude. She texted us and thanked us for the letter. She told us she would love to take us out to lunch sometime! Sister Bone and I last week felt inspired to call her. She was very gracious and told us she would love to take us out to lunch this week! On Saturday, we went to lunch with her at a very nice restaurant that overlooked the lake...I felt like I was in a dream. We were able to share with her the Restoration lesson. She thought it was quite interesting. She spoiled us to say the least! She wants to get together this week again. I know the Lord has great plans for her. I believe I will be good friends with her. I am grateful for the Holy Ghost. Time and time again I am surprised at the miracles that come as we submit our will to the Savior's.

Sister Bone and I, after zone training about consecrated missionaries, made a commitment to the Lord to have a baptism. We pray every day constantly that we will have one. It is amazing the miracles that have already come as a result. We have met many wonderful people this week! We taught a retired pastor and two girls who worked in a gas station as they were helping other people buy cigarettes:) I know the Lord has many people prepared to hear the gospel. We simply need to prepare to teach them! As we submit our will to the Lord's, we show the Lord we are worthy of divine intervention.

I loved the women's broadcast! Dieter F Uchtdorf's analogy of our “sin umbrella” shielding us from raining blessings was great.  I loved how he likened commandments to the  instructions on how to close the umbrella. I know that the Lord wants to bless us. It is by obedience, turning our will to God's, that we receive those blessings!

After the meeting, women in another ward gathered to take a picture.  One of the women told us to get in the picture. We told her that we didn't know the people getting in the picture. She looked at us and frankly and boldly said, "Do you know Jesus?...Get in the picture." We quickly obeyed. We cracked up laughing afterward about it. If we know Jesus, than we must come together. It was a funny story but it has a great message! "Do you know Jesus?...then get in the picture!" Sister Bone and I like to repeat it back to each other!

Love all of you!! Thank you for your letters and emails of encouragement! I am coming to realize on a mission how blessed I really am. I hope I can help others to receive similar blessings!

Hurrah For Israel Hurrah!

Hello Friends!

This week has been quite busy! We scheduled many appointments which was great! Some nights we were running from appointment to appointment! We have seen a lot of miracles!

We met with Angie on Tuesday night. I have never seen her happier. She is rarely drinking coffee and wants to read the Book of Mormon every day! What in the world?? She wants to wait until she gets a further, stronger witness from the Spirit on the Book of Mormon before she gets baptized. We assured her that day would come! I absolutely love talking to her! She wants to come to Church next week.

We hope many will come next week...it is the primary program. My favorite!

Leslie is doing okay! We are working on Personal Progress. We met with her twice this week. We are trying to treat her as a member.  For one of our lessons, we felt inspired to watch part of The District (a series for missionaries we train with). We talked about the Holy Ghost and how to recognize it, especially in terms of promptings and how being VIRTUOUS (one of the Young Women's values we are focusing on) helps us feel the Spirit. After the video, she commented more on how the missionaries in the segment recognized the Holy Ghost more than how the investigators did. She referred to her conversion in the past rather than the present. It was a real change! She has expressed some desire to go on a mission someday.I am starting to realize the effect spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to one person has. I love Leslie. I hope she knows that. I know she misses Sister Smith. Pray that her mom will  let her get baptized soon! Her birthday is on the 16:)

This week we met with our investigator named Jennifer. Jennifer is in her late 30's and lives alone. She works for Sons of Norway, a genealogy and insurance company! We met with her in a member’s home after having a wonderful dinner. She was a former investigator who we just recently began teaching again. We taught her the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Before the lesson, I felt unprepared and prayed to Heavenly Father that Sister Bone and I would be able to teach by the Spirit. We had other lessons to plan for early that morning and did not get time to talk through the lesson although we had planned it out. The Spirit came powerfully as we began teaching. As we taught her about baptism and the gift of baptism, by the right priesthood authority, we saw hope and happiness begin to enter her eyes. She then told us that she wants to get baptized sometime this winter. She simply wants to read the Book of Mormon a little before hand to get more comfortable. We assured her that our purpose was to help her prepare for baptism. As we talked with the members about their baptisms, one of them a convert to the Church, the Spirit was overwhelmingly present. I realized our purpose is truly helping others to access the Atonement. Through the restoration of Christ's church, we can access the Savior like never before!

As I have driven to appointments, I have felt reluctant getting to appointments early because of the awkward amount of time we have to tract or make phone calls. I found myself on those occasions going a few miles per hour under the speed limit. On our way to an appointment this week I felt again the urge to slow down and recognized that the adversary was working on me. I decided to go the speed limit and develop a sense of urgency and faith in the Lord and his work. We had about 20 minutes before the appointment. The first house we knocked on was receptive. It was a young mom who absorbed the message like a sponge. She seemed very interested. We called her again this weekend. She wants to think things over but didn't object when we said we had more to teach her. We will call her today or tomorrow and cross our fingers it all goes well! The Lord begins to trust us with his children as we act in faith, no matter how small that act may be!

Sister Bone has been doing great! She learned to bike a month before her mission. We have had to travel to Bloomington frequently this last month and need to bike this week...our miles are out! I was very impressed with her as we biked most of the day yesterday. She often had to stop to adjust something or because she lost balance but she never gave up. She was a little sick and tired and kept pushing forward with few tears. She is a dedicated missionary. She knows why she came out. Even when things are harder than she expected, she presses forward in faith! I have never heard her complain. Some days we will go the whole day and I will ask her if she felt well that day. This week she often said that she felt sick during the day even though she didn't mention it once! Sister Bone has a strong testimony and I continue to tell her of the impact it makes when she shares it! Yesterday she began a conversation with a man I was not going to talk to. She acted very courageously! We taught the man the Restoration. I am lucky to be her companion.

Sister Peterson's adopted daughter, the mother of the four-year-old, Jordyn, is living with Sister Peterson for the time being. She goes to a Baptist church on occasion but has been sitting in on the lessons. She is hilarious. She told her son Jordyn, who had a runny nose.... “Jordyn if you lick that snot one more time....your gonna be meetin’ Jesus real soon!”  Sister Bone and I cannot stop laughing about it! Sister Bone and I sang “A Child's Prayer” one night with the lights off (only a candle burning) to all of them after teaching the children about Jonah and the Whale and obedience. Her daughter expressed her love for the song and wants to get the lyrics. That is the first time she has showed real interest. By small and simple means are great things brought to pass!

This week, I am trying to find greater joy in others’ successes. I realize that the adversary attacks me most in that aspect at times. As I have tried to focus on Sister Bone and become more involved with my investigators, I have found greater happiness and peace.

Last night we were biking home in the dark...don’t worry Dad and Mom, we wear extensive reflective gear:) I looked up to see millions of stars, the Big Dipper right in front of my face. At the same time, a train traveled beside us framed by millions of trees and grasses. It was an incredible experience.

Have a great week friends! I know it will be a great one! For when the Lord is on our side we have no need to fear!

Our view as we were biking over the path to a bridge... so great!

Sincere Curiosity

Hello friends of mine!

Happy Birthday Russ and Kaitlyn Gunther! I have been very blessed to have you two as family members! I love you both so much!

I have missed Sister Smith a lot this week but I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to work beside Sister Bone!

This week I have recognized spiritual promptings better than ever before. I will ask Sister Bone where she thinks we should go or what we should do and an idea or feeling will pop into my mind. She then suggests the very idea or feeling I just thought of! It is incredible! I know that when the Lord needs us to receive a prompting, we will. And when we don't, the Lord just wants us to press forward in faith.  And if we press forward in faith, it will all work out.

Two nights these last two weeks we have come home late due to an appointment and after getting ready for bed and greeting Steve and Keri, have found ourselves without time to plan. We plan the next morning but the next day it is harder to receive spiritual promptings and teach with authority and power. Exact obedience brings blessings! In the end it truly makes us happy. We sacrifice something we want in the moment for something better tomorrow, something lasting! I am grateful I can repent and feel of Christ's love as I do this. I know no matter how many times we come back to the Lord and ask for forgiveness, he will always receive us. Alma 5: 33-34. We often think of repentance as a negative thing. However, we all need to repent. Wheb we do, we come to know the Lord better.

I have found that the best way to find investigators is through sincere curiosity! Each person is unique; they have different, personalities, interests, and hobbies! I explained this to Sister Bone yesterday and while implementing it, we found an Italian couple! He showed us how to make meatballs from scratch and let us taste his homemade spaghetti sauce. It was amazing! It turns out he didn't actually grow up in Italy but his grandmother and grandfather did. He would suddenly, often, when referring to the spaghetti, talk about it in an Italian accent. I think he may have had a little bit too much alcohol but we enjoyed our time with him and his wife! It was a funny experience! We taught them the Restoration. He wants to have us over for an Italian dinner! Hopefully we will be able to teach him more.

I have been learning some Spanish from some Sisters in the Ward who speak it. One has a mother here for a year from Chile. She is getting baptized the second week in October! The Spanish Elders taught her but she will most likely be baptized into our ward. She assumes everyone speaks Spanish so she will talk to you fluently in Spanish. I am catching on! She also greets us with a kiss on the cheek...she is adorable. She makes me laugh. Another lady from Ecuador, a less active, is teaching me Spanish tongue twisters! We laugh so hard! I have a few down:) Brother Dam, the Vietnamese convert we visit weekly, speaks French and teaches me some greetings in French as well as some vocabulary in Vietnamese...I am not particularly good at Asian languages:) When trying to say things in Italian to the couple, I could hardly say a few words....all these languages at once are confusing me!

This week, we felt prompted to stop by our investigator’s, Angie’s home.  When we stopped by, she let us in and we ended up having a lesson in which a powerful spirit was present. We talked with her about becoming whole through Christ. She feels like Christ and Heavenly Father have forgotten her. I am grateful for the opportunity to show her that Christ does love her.

We decided that we are going to start working on Personal Progress with Leslie. We met with the Young Women’s president and she suggested we do it with her! I am so excited!!! Leslie is doing well. We are going to treat her like a member. Right now, I think she feels she is held back from progressing. So personal progress will be fun!

This week, Sister Bone and I intended to stop by a potential Sister Smith and I discovered and taught the Restoration lesson to...the one with the crazy kids doing back flips and trust falls. However, when we got to her house, we wondered if we had made the right decision. We stopped and prayed about it and immediately we both felt we should go see her. We started making some calls before we got out of the car but suddenly we both looked at each other and decided we needed to get out of the car. We got out of the car and walked very briskly to the potential’s house. This potential is a stay at home mom with three kids under the age of 7. When we got to the door, the four year old pulled us into the house while repeatedly saying, “You came back”!! They are adorable kids. The mother, Andrea, began talking to us about our pamphlet and how she had discussed it with her husband but that they wanted to stay at their church. We then asked if we could share a simple message. She accepted and we sat down. We sang primary songs with the 4 year old and shared a scripture. Their house is pretty chaotic and noisy. We started singing I am a Child of God and the house went quiet. The spirit entered their home strongly. I know there is power in singing. There is power in primary songs. Andrea ended up inviting us back. The next day we met her husband briefly as they were on their way out. The next day we felt prompted to go to the house around dinner time. In our minds it didn't make sense but we knew we needed to go. We decided to thank them with a note and felt prompted to take them a printed church talk. We talked with the husband for a bit outside. He didn't seem too friendly the first time we met him and we were a little bit wary of talking to him. He told us he didn't mean to be rude but that he didn't know when we were coming over and often times it was when they were in the middle of something. I understood. We told him we would love to get his number to call him. He told us he would love to have us over at a planned time so they could be more hospitable. We got his number and will call him this week. I am praying all goes well! We have hope!!!

This week I have felt the adversary’s influence. He has tried to make me feel discouraged, be disobedient, or have negative thoughts. I know that through the Savior we can overcome anything. I know that often times when Satan tries to influence us the most, we are about to see the biggest miracles. I am grateful for my challenges because through them I am able to feel Christ's love. I know that through Christ I can overcome anything. I know that adversary will not win. In the Savior, I have found peace. I know that through the Savior all things are possible! Often times when we feel weak, the Lord is simply making us into more than we could have been on our own. C. S. Lewis indicated there is often pain in change when he wrote of God’s expectations for His children: “Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of—throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace” (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, New York: MacMillan Co., 1960, p. 160).

Have a great week!

 Hot chocolate while weekly planning….not a bad deal:) Steve spoils us!

 This member in our ward (he is in high school) made a wind up clock out of paper…it really works! 

The view from the side of our house! It is chilly and beautiful!

Happy 100 Days

Hi everyone!

Happy Birthday Bailey Dunn!! I hope you are doing well! I love you, cute cousin of mine!

Transfer week! Craziness! My new companion is Sister Bone. She is from Salt Lake City, Utah! She went to Highland's SPA program for Drama but lives near skyline. She went to SLCC for a year and then Utah State for two years! She is 22. She is probably majoring in Secondary Education when she gets back. It is crazy! We have so many connections and have never met one another. I love her! Sister Bone is doing well! She is very humble. She is willing to talk even if she might be afraid. Sister Bone has great potential! She walks away from teaching others with love in her heart for the person she has taught. It amazes me! I am learning a lot from her!

Leslie is doing well! We met with her this last week. She is hoping to get permission from her mom to go to Seminary. We are praying for her! I love her!

This week we stopped by Angie Anderson’s. She has had a problem in the past with Sister's not saying goodbye to her. Sister Smith and I pounded hard on the door and woke her up. She wasn't very happy when she answered the door, to say the least, and quickly shut the door. I felt sick  about it after but each time I prayed, I felt peace. I continue to tell myself that was part of the Lord’s plan. We took her flowers and a card Thursday. Yesterday, I called her. She apologized for the way she acted. She said it wasn't us but she had had a really bad day. She thanked us sincerely for the flowers and card. Her heart was softened and she opened up more about her concerns. I am praying she will have a better week this week. The Lord's tender mercies are real.

This week, the night Sister Bone arrived, we taught two Restoration lessons to people outside. I felt the power of the Lord work through me. Sister Bone was able to speak with boldness. I gained a testimony that this is truly the Lord’s work. If he wants us to teach someone, he will provide a way. All we need to do is simply trust him. We need to trust that as we open our mouths, he will fill them.

This week we have practiced our teaching with members. Some of the lessons went well and some did not. I began to feel embarrassed when the member would give us more criticism than praise. We went to lunch with Brother Longstreet later that week. When talking to him about my humbling experiences, he gave me some advice I appreciate greatly. He said, “maybe your job this week was to help the members feel needed. Who knows, Maybe in that way, they can feel invested in the work”. I know that it is often through our weaknesses that we gain strong relationships. As we allow others to help us, our love for them increases. Their love for us grows as well.

I know the Lord will consecrate our performance for our gain if we believe in him. I have made many mistakes but who knows... when people  hear the message, even though they may initially reject it, it might prepare them to hear the message in the future! And, our mistakes help us learn and progress so we can meet the future need of a prepared son or daughter of God. We can never fail when we are with the Lord!

Our gospel essentials teacher said something yesterday I loved when talking about the parable of the talents. He said THE ATTEMPT IS THE VICTORY. Let us not hold back or bury our talents because of fear of failing. Let us use what we have! As we do, we will find that the Lord will refine us. He will make more out of us than we could ever make of ourselves. Let us press forward in courage!

For THE FUTURE IS AS BRIGHT AS OUR FAITH! Have a great week!

P.S. Sister Bone said I have a Minnesota accent.. oh boy! I laughed pretty hard! I have to say, I cannot tell who here has one anymore unless I listen really carefully, haha!

Happy September

Dear family and friends,

Happy Birthday Jordyn!! I look up to you so much! I hope your internship went well and that this school year goes well for you!

Thank you for the Letter Liz! I will try to write you back as soon as I can:) It brought a smile to my face when I saw it in the mail! Happy Birthday Sam! I hope to minister the way you do on your mission! talk Happy Birthday Amy Bingham! I hope all is well! I imagine you walking the streets of Germany as I walk about the streets of Minnesota. I feel such love and support from you! 

This week Sister Smith and I have been pondering about how to help Angie feel loved. We looked back through her teaching record and decided that the times the Sisters were able to help her most were when they established a relationship with her: spending time talking to her. We planned an ice cream trip and walk....my favorite! On the walk, she opened up to us about many concerns we didn't know before. We talked to her about transfers coming up and she told Sister Smith, " You cannot leave until I get baptized." Everyone knew Sister Smith's time was probably up. Angie has never admitted that she wanted to get baptized before. I know that I am here to help her. I just have to trust in the Lord's timing.

We moved to our remodeled church building Sunday! Some less actives came because they loved the new building so much! This man spoke about his conversion in Chicago. He was very well spoken. He related an analogy about a row boat with two oars...one named Faith and the other Work. He said we must have both to go forward. I loved that!

This week, because we have been low on car miles, we have biked every other day. We added up and WE’VE  BIKED ABOUT 70 MILES! (probably more) We weren’t able to teach many lessons but I felt the Lord preparing me for something. I felt the Lord molding me.

At the end of yesterday, we felt we should stop by one less active who has severe social anxiety. I have never seen her face and Sister Smith has only seen her once. Sister Smith told me later that she was praying for help to see her as we went up the elevator. If the Lord wants me to take over the area, she knew I needed to see her. She felt that was the one thing she hadn’t passed over to me. We walked to the door and talked to her for a minute through the door. We asked her if we could give her a card with the address of the church on it. She opened the door and began to open up to us about her desire to stop smoking. She is such a sweet lady. We both said prayers of gratitude after leaving for allowing us the opportunity to see this woman and help her.

I am training a new missionary!!! I will find out on Wednesday who it is:) It was incredible to see the way the Lord prepared this area and me this last week. I have seen many people Sister Smith has only told me about but I have never actually met. 

I made a list this morning of a few of the profound things I have learned these last few months....

-The Lord shows us our weaknesses frequently so that we can be made strong through the Savior and so we know that it is by his grace and mercy that we have power to do these things Jacob 4:7

Patience worketh Miracles

Believe in Miracles....you cannot see them if you don’t believe they will happen.

The Lord is more aware of us than we realize.

We are stronger than we think and doing better than we think we are.

Obedience is the opportunity to show our faith; faith brings blessings.

When we keep sacred experiences sacred by allowing the Spirit to direct with whom we share them,  the Lord will trust us with more sacred experiences.

Praying and Singing together brings the Spirit.

Often Satan attacks us the most right before we see the biggest miracles. We must never give up hope.

We must rely on the Lord in ALL we do. We must not rely solely on ourselves.

Others pick up on the way we view ourselves. If we think we are worthy of love, others will view us as lovable.

Quiet confidence radiates.

Gratitude is the key to humility and it is the key to joy.

Sympathy is often the best way to help someone feel the Savior’s love.

People don’t care what you have to say until they know how much you care.

Knowledge is important; timing is essential.

The Holy Ghost converts. We are simply the Lord's instruments.

The pure love of Christ changes people. It is the means of conversion.

This morning Sister Smith and I were pondering on these last few months while together. As we studied, we both expressed our gratitude for working together. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with her. I was so overcome, I began to cry in gratitude for a loving heavenly father who allowed me, the weak and imperfect person I am to have felt the pure love of Christ change me these last few months.  I have been truly changed through ministering with her to those in this area. I have come to see the way the Lord sees Sister Smith. It is amazing to see the ways the Lord knows each of us. The new area she is going to will be perfect for her.She is going to be a Sister Training Leader in a place called Medicine Lake....in our mission it is known as little Africa.

I cannot explain in words the love I have for my Savior. I hope I can help my new trainee feel that same love. I pray I will be able to help each investigator not only feel the spirit but have an experience with it. I know as they come to feel the Savior's love, as I did this week, they will change; they will desire to be with the Savior and do anything in their power to get to him.

Saturday, while biking, a storm hit and we found ourselves riding soaking wet in the rain. As I wiped the rain from my face, I looked up to see a gorgeous rainbow to my left lit by a beautiful sunset to my right. I tried to let this moment sink in. I could re-live that moment again and again. It was a beautiful end to the week!!!

Love all of you so much! This last week has been incredible!

Safety First!