One week left in LM :/ 12/8/2014

Hi, friends!

This week has been a crazy one.

As you already know, we found out that Sister Hatch was going home on Monday. We spent the day packing and cleaning and frantically trying to get everything together. It was a miracle that we got everything done and Sister Hatch's bags packed and under 50 pounds when we did. We went and had pizza with Jaysin and Kareena at our usual choice of pizza-eating.

Then we drove to Oconomowoc and had a sleep over with the Kettle sisters. Oh my heavens, was that a crazy time. We got there and talked for a bit and drank some really gross sparkling apple and peach cider that we all decided was what beer would taste like. But we drank it anyway because 1) it wasnt actually beer, and 2) just because we could. haha. We chatted for a bit and then we went to bed. They pulled their mattresses into the living room and Sister Hatch and I got the couches. The Kettle sisters fell asleep right away. Sister Hatch and I COULD NOT fall asleep for the life of us. There was too much in our brains and we were running off of too much adrenaline. But we laid there nonetheless. Then at some point in the hours of laying there, Sister Hatch and I decided to go into the other room and talk for a bit. I knew that she was stressing about flying home and figured getting her mind off of it for a bit would be a good thing. So we chatted and laughed and tried not to cry and just sat there. It was 3 in the morning when we decided to try to sleep again, when we heard the sisters talking in the other room. We thought they were wondering where we went and so we decided to scare them. Turns out they both just woke up because they were hungry and didnt even care that we were gone. They went back to bed pretty quickly after that.

So with practically NO sleep, we woke up at 6 and headed for the mission home. Sister Hatch and I got in the car with Sister Cutler and we headed to the airport. I bawleeeeeeeeeeeeeedddddddddd my face off saying goodbye to that girl. She became my really good friend. That was hard to watch her leave. Like, a little bit heart breaking.

Life with Sister Griffin has been good. She is totally different than Sister Griffin.

We've seen lots of people this week. We got a list of sisters to visit from Sister Laws, the RS president and we have been spending all our time with them. We have seen some pretty cool miracles. People that I have never met and have never been able to contact have been SO nice and have let us in. We have found some new families that moved into the ward kinda under the radar who need some strengthening, so that was sweet.

Jaysin is doing so good. He came Christmas Caroling with us for the christmas gram thing and at first he hated his life, but by the end he was having a blast. He was playing with the Jacobs dog and laughing and smiling. And then he bore his testimony about it on Sunday. He's FINALLY making friends. Bro Luccion asked him to teach Gospel Principles next week and he is being super precious about it. He told me that his sons came over on Saturday night and tried to get him to go party and drink with them and he said, "No way, I have church in the morning. I gotta go to bed." That in itself is a HUGE change. I was kinda worrying about him and how he would take the transition of us leaving, but I'm starting to think that he will be okay.

The ward members are being extra precious. They are soooooo sad that we are leaving. They have been so helpful. I am soooooo sooo soooooo terribly sad to leave.

This week... 12/1/2014

So, hello again! 

I have sad news. Sister Hatch is going home tomorrow. :( And we just found out THIS MORNING. So we have a super busy day of packing ahead. 

My new companion Sister Griffin is currently in a trio in Milwaukee YSA right now, but will be here tomorrow. She goes home in legit 2 weeks, so her and I are going to close Lake Mills. What?? We will both be here for two weeks transitioning our investigators over to the elders and helping Jaysin reach his baptismal date and getting the ward to wrap their arms around him and help him stay active. And then in two weeks I am moving to Racine and will finish my mission there. #saywhat?

I am stokeddddd to go to Racine! It's ghetto there. hahaha. I like teaching people in sketchy places. Its way more exciting and people are usually super humble. And like...3/4 of all my companions have served there so I feel like I already know the area. AND! President told me specifically that he wants me to use my Spanish there! #dreamscometrue

We really didnt do much this week...again. We tried to go on splits buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut everyone and their mom was out of town for Thanksgiving. So. That didnt work out. 

I did go out one day while Sister Hatch slept at a members house. I went to the Fullmers house and did some service. They are finally getting to adopt a baby!!!!! (: (: (: Best news ever. So I went and helped them paint and move furniture and stuff. It was nice to get out of the house and nice to help them. They are freaking out. I cant imagine finding out you are bringing home a newborn baby....in a week. 

We had Thanksgiving with Sister Peralta and Sister Stevenson. It was crazy but a ton of fun. At one point Christmas music was put on and we had a dance party...? I promise it was approved music. haha.

Jaysin is doing really well. This week was hard for him because he doesnt really have any family or any good friends. So he got really lonely. And went Jaysin gets lonely, he makes poor choices. But he came to church and was loving every second of it. And then we had a surprise birthday party for him at a member's home and like...the whole ward came. Jaysin was in tears. He's so precious because he has never really felt love before, so seeing all the people from church there for HIM was really special. It made his life. I dont think we even understand how much it meant to him. I'll send links to the videos in my picture email.

Its starting to look a lot like winter here. And idk how to drive in snow..! haha. Its been cold, but this time I know that its about to get like 50 degrees colder. SO I refuse to wear my winter boots or winter jacket until December. And....I guess today is December.... awkward. Maybe we'll see how much longer I can hold out. Its a fun game. I've also spent the last 3 weeks inside...so we'll see. haha. 

So yeahhhh. 2 more weeks in Lake Mills. That's fun. 

Also: watch this video and share it with every living thing that you know. I promise you wont regret it. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzjFEMmM0Xs 

Annnnnnnd. I'll talk to ya soon!

Surprise! And Happy Thanksgiving! 11/24/2014

Sister Hatch actually stayed here and didn't get transferred! So I don't have a new companion. 

Sister Hatch is still really sick and is under doctors (and President's) orders to sleepas much as possible. So we have not done much this week either. 

I've had loads of time to study. Thats been fun, I've learned a lot. I've got to research some things that I've had questions about that I haven't had time to study before. 

And since there is only so much studying a  person can do in a day, and stay sane, I've done lots of other things. I cleaned the apartment like 7 times, put up and decorated a Christmas tree, cut out paper snowflakes, wrote in my journal and glued in a bunch of pictures, added lots of good quotes to my quote journal, had a lot of good lessons on the phone, made lots of cookies, and soup, and smoothies, paced around the apartment, laid on the floor, watched snow fall out the window, sleep, ect. Its been REALLY exciting. haha :P

It's been hard, but I also understand. It's very easy as a companion to be bitter when your companion is sick and you are stuck inside. You kinda go stir-crazy. But I've also been the sick companion before, so I know what its like when people judge you and think less of you and your missionary work. Its hindered a couple of relationships and it just sucks. So I have learned a lot about patience and humility and charity. And diligence. We have plans for Sister Hatch to stay with a member sister while I go out with another sister for appointments next week, so that will be good. 

We have lessons on the phone with Jaysin and Kim and other friends, and they are doing well. Jaysin came to a member baptism and even brought his oldest son, Dalten. We gave him a Book of Mormon, but he ended up leaving it in the church foyer. Sad. He came to church too and even stayed for priesthood, something we've been trying to get him to do for weeeeeeks. And miracles happened! He agreed to play on a team at the Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving morning and got invited to spend Thanksgiving with a member family! Booyah! Members in Lake Mills know how to fellowship.

I finally finished my applications for school today. I decided to apply to BYU Hawaii too. That was my original plan after my mission, and I figured I might as well apply. So, theres that. 

We're spending Thanksgiving with two single sisters who would both otherwise be alone. So that should be fun.

Yeah. These emails have been super lame lately. Sorry! I'll try to do more exciting things this week. And I'll have more time now since I dont have to worry about my BYU applications anymore. yay. So, until next time! <3

Sick week :/ 11/17/2014

This week has been crazy.

Its been a really boring week because we spent it inside. Sister Hatch is super sick. Her mono came back and she's probably going to have to go home. :(

I've been sick too, but not nearly as bad. We think that we both caught the flu and hers just got a million times worse cause of the mono. So. thats been fun. We've both had fevers all week, so we've been on house arrest. Its been reaaaaaaaaalllll boring. 

I had to give my "dying testimony" at zone conference since it was my last one. Thats gross. It literally was the last thing I expected to do at that zone conference. There is no way it was my last one. I also got my "trunky papers" which is just a packet of papers that tells you, "You're going home soon! ....but dont think about it!" And that means I'll be getting my flight plan information soon too. Gross gross gross. 

I'm getting a new companion, Sister Silva. She came out with me, so we will probably finish our missions here in Lake Mills and close the area. 

I've been working on my BYU application essays today, so I'm like...brain dead.

We've seen lots of miracles even though we were on house arrest all week. We dropped Jaysin last week because he just wasnt willing to keep any commitments, and this week he called us and wanted to set a new baptism date. So that was SWEET. Hopefully it works out this time since it was HIS idea. We also got a couple of awesome referrals! One of them is a family that actually WANTS to be taught! #score! I'm excited to not be on house arrest anymore so we get to finally contact them!

Time is flying. 

Oh hey familia, since I go home so soon after Christmas and my birthday, I am requesting only cards or super small packages for presents, so I dont have to take so much stuff home. I have plenty of winter gear and clothes and supplies and things to finish out my mission here.  Sorry if its rude to request the type of presents I want, but I feel like this will work much better for everyone - both money and time wise. So your challenge is to find the funniest, flashiest, unique, most awesome card you can. (:

Love you all, miss you all! Go do something awesome today! <3

11/3/14

This week was fun. I honestly can't remember half of it cause it all blends together.

We have some super promising people and families and things. We've been trying to stay busy. We've been utter failures on some things, but we're going to do better.

We had a super fun lesson with a family where the dad is not a member of the church and the mom hasnt been active in a long time and she has two kids. We had dinner and a lesson with them and we talked about what Jesus meant when he says, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." And it was WAY fun because we did it by carving pumpkins! We took the guts out and said that before we can be a good example and let our light shine, we have to take out all the bad stuff inside of us (lying, hitting, yelling, fighting, ect). Then we carved a heart for an eye and talked about how we should love everyone and serve people, and the kids gave examples of how we do that. Then we carved an in the shape of a star to represent being good examples, and they gave more examples of how to do that. Then we carved a big smile to remind us that we should be happy and we talked about some of our favorite family memories that make us smile or laugh. We talked about how when we do all those things, our light can shine through, just like our jack-o-lanterns! Hopefully that helped them internalize that principle. It was way fun!

We've been knocking on a lot of doors. Like...lots. And no one this week was interested or would give us the time of day. One guy was pretty nasty and was telling us we were wrong and going to hell. That was fun. haha. Its always an adventure.

We woke up to snow on Halloween morning! It melted by the middle of the day, but it was still freezing all day and super windy. Bit jealous that (most of you) get to be in the desert warmth all winter. I'm still refusing to break out the winter stuff. It still has a long way to go before I'll break out the tights and winter boots and snow jacket.

We went on exchanges this week. Sister Silcox is so fun. We visited our friends Beverly and Blanca and Jenn. Then we tracted and people were rude. Apparently the rudest people she's come across her whole mission...and she goes home next month. So that was fun. We had a good day and had a lot of laughs and talked about our lives and it was good. One of my favorite exchanges.

Jaysin is doing pretty good. We dropped his baptism date though. He doesnt desire baptism yet because he doesnt quite understand that he can actually change. So we had a "do or die" lesson with him and told him that we've taught him everything he needs to know now its his turn to act. It was really good though. He has changed SO much already. It is understandable to see why he thinks that he's "good enough for now" because anyone else  in any other situation would say the same. But we can see that it is just the adversary "lulling him away into carnal security" or whatever that scripture says. But he is still doing well. Keep praying for him. He needs all the help he can get.

Kim's date got moved to Nov 22nd. She's doing pretty well too. We will start seeing her 3 times a week starting to day. She didnt come to church though and we dont know why :/

Church yesterday was SO spiritual. Fast Sunday in Lake Mills is always a good Sunday. It was just really good and I just love how everyone here loves each other. Sister Buth's mom died on Saturday night and everyone just reached out and there were lots of hugs and kisses and tears. But it wasnt SAD. It was just spiritual. Everyone was just on fire with keeping their baptismal covenants yesterday. I loved watching people help other people with their kids, or helping old people walk up the stairs, or crying with one another. The stake president was there and he even commented on how tight this ward is. Its just so good. I hope we can all do our part to make our wards wherever we are more like that.

We've been reading the Book of Mormon together as a mission and its been really good. I realized that I was starting to get lazy and just go through the motions of things and so this week I made an added effort to be present and consciously apply things to my life. As a result, my morning studies have been way good. So its been a good week.

It's All About the Energy 10/27/2014

Hey friends! This email will probably be lame because I am working on my essays for my BYU application. Sorry!

I literally dont know what we did on Monday. haha Oops. 

Oh wait! Yes I do! We emailed for a bajillion years and then we went to Johnson Creek and I got a sick shirt for 2 dollars! #score.

Then we contacted some peeps in town and then taught our friend Jenn about the Book of Mormon and got a return appointment. Oh! And then we got some sweet spanish referrals from the Janesville Spanish elders because they know I can teach spanish lessons. #dreamscometrue

Tuesday was District Meeting. It was weird because with transfers and ZTM and everything, we havent had a district meeting in like 3 weeks, and it was the first with our new district leader. And it was on the law of chastity. It occurred to me that basically nowhere else in the world would you ever find a room full of 12 kids in their 20's talking about such a topic with such maturity. We are  not the average group of 20 year olds. 

After DTM, we met Jaysin kinda last minute at the library! And we taught him the laaw of chastity. Which was perfect because we had just had a training on teaching it and we had already been studying it. Although I will avoid teaching that lesson at a library again at all costs. 

Then we saw Jessie and Tessa and their puppy tried to eat my clothes.
Then we had dinner and a lesson with the Greer's just like every other Tuesday night. Except it was AWESOME. Bro Greer is ZOOMING through the Book of Mormon and you can tell! He had asked us to come prepared to talk about Mosiah 15:1-5. We were stressing hardcore because he questions everything and we just *knew* it was going to be rough. Be we got there and within 5 minutes, he was like, "Oh, so its not saying Christ is like HEAVENLY Father. Okay, I get it." And literally we all just sat there with our jaws dropped. I loveeeed it though, because it shows that by reading the Book of Mormon, he's getting more of the Spirit, which makes learning easier as it can testify of truths. It was sweeeeeeet.

Wednesday I got the last half of my root canal done. That dentist office is legit. The hygienist and the doctor are both getting baptized one day. They were sweeeeeeet and asked us a TON of questions. We  joke that God let my tooth die so that we could meet them.

We also taught the Donnelly's about the tree of life and had a fun object lesson about holding to the rod. 

Then we rushed over to Dwight's and taught him how to experiment on the word. We watched President Uchtdorf's talk, "Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth" and talked about the 4 steps he gives. It was pretty good. We invited him to baptism and he got weird. But we'll keep working.

Then we saw Sister Klingaman and sang her a medley of some hymns and then talked about the words.

Thursday was boring. Nothing to talk about. haha Sister Hatch was sick again, so we stayed home. Again.

Friday was sweet. We had a pretty full day and got to see some people. Then we had the trunk or treat. And I LOVE trunk or treats. (Oh, ps. Thanks for all the halloween packages family! I love that ya'll know that I love Halloween! They rocked!) And the Donnelly's came! They are on fire. Sister Donnelly came to the RS activity the next day AND church on Sunday too! That family is making leaps and bounds! 

I didnt go all out for the trunk or treat this year. I just dont have the time or energy anymore. haha. But we were super stoked because a bunch of members brought their friends and we got to talk to them all! And I just love Halloween and kids and making new friends. So it was great.

Saturday was like...the worst day of my life. We knocked on doors all day. Single less-active sisters. Potential investigators. Random doors. Literally ALL day. I thought it was going to be sweet and we'd get to talk to so many people and it would rock. And....it went quite opposite. We had a total of one lesson that day. hahaha. It was rouuuuuuuuuuuuugh. But we made it through.

Sunday was awkward because we planned to go to Waterloo and contact a bunch of people and visit some of our less active friends and we got there and everyone was trick-or-treating....so we werent allowed to proselyte. Wisconsin is weird and every town trick or treats on different days NOT on Halloween and during daylight hours. And no one told us that Waterloo's was on this Sunday. SO we went to Deerfield and visited our other less active friends instead.

OH! I forgot about a miracle that happened on Friday! We got a new investigator that came to us! She literally knocked on our door. Then we met with her that day and set a baptismal date and she came to the RS activity the next day AND church on Sunday. It was sweet.

Longest week ever 10/20/2014

Hey friends. 

This week seemed to drag on forever. Yet at the same time I have no idea how its the end of October right now. Idk how that works.

So. This week.

Monday we had Pday. We did the normal stuff and wrote letters and chilled and bought stuff. Then we went to Watertown and had a lesson with the Greer family! We talked about some Conference talks and how we have to live principles of the gospel before we gain a testimony of it. Brother Greer still has doubts and questions, but he is reading a TON in the Book of Mormon and praying more and he even notices the difference it makes. I loooooove that family. I think that both Sister Hatch and I are definitely here for a reason because we both connect really well with them.

Tuesday was awesome because we went to Watertown again and saw our friends. We met with Edgar and Veronica and it was fun because Sister Hatch doesnt speak any spanish, so I had to translate EVERYTHING. Which was hard. haha But it was actually awesome because Edgar's heart has been softened a little bit! When we introduced the Book of Mormon last time, he got super defensive and angry. He pulled out his Bible and said that there could be no other word of God. But this time he actually let us explain what it was and that we also read and love the Bible. We read 2 Nephi 25:26, which says, "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." And he really felt the Spirit and realized that we werent crazy people with a crazy book. So then his cousin jose came in and we gave him a Book of Mormon and he had a lot of really good questions about it. 

Then we had dinner with Sister Hepner. She is a prime human. I just love her. Every time I'm with her my stomach hurts from laughing so much. After dinner Jaysin came over and we taught him about the Word of Wisdom. He knows the Book of Mormon is true and so we have been working on making the mental link between if the Book of Mormon is true, then Joseph Smith was a Prophet, and if he was a prophet, then the revelations he received are from God and true. That seemed to go pretty well. We committed him to live the Word of Wisdom and so far he's gone a week with no alcohol and 2 days without smoking.

Oh yeah! And that morning I got half of my root canal done! Then because we were already in Watertown and we had appointments there that evening, but I was drugged and numbed up and couldnt exactly knock on doors, we went to the Greers house and I slept off the meds for a bit so we could go back to work. That was awesome because their cat slept with me the whole time and it was like a little tender mercy because I miss having animals to cuddle. haha

Wednesday we were sick and stayed in the apartment :(

Thursday started out rough. 

Remember how we met Jamie last week and she was GOLDEN? Well, we went to our appointment and on her doorstep was the Book of Mormon we gave her wrapped in a grocery bag (it was raining) and a note that said, "No thank you".
SAAAAAAAAAAAAAD.

So then we went and did service at Vinneys.
Then we went to Jefferson and saw Blanca and it was awesome because she is SO cute and she was feeling much better so we had a great time. 

Then we hurried back to Lake Mills to teach the Donnelly family! 

They had just lost the dog they were dog sitting, so we walked around their backyard (which is basically the cemetery and the woods) and looked for the dog. We gave up and they went inside and then I saw it and the missionaries totally saved the day!!!

Friday was awesome because we had Zone Training Meeting in Milwaukee and got to watch Meet the Mormons. It was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good. I am requesting to watch it 7 more times when I get home. 

We had a super awkward training and practiced a new way to explain the Book of Mormon by drawing a picture. 

Then we worked in Watertown again.

Saturday was fun. We did lots of stuff....in Watertown again. hahaha.

Sunday was awesome because it was the Primary Program and it was soooooooooooooooooo precious. Alberto's daughters Yadira and Valeria were in it and had parts and everything! It was sooo cool to see that even though his daughters arent old enought to be baptized, that we brought a family into the ward. It was sweet! Oh! And Emma Donnelly came and was in the program even though she didnt know ANY of the songs and just hardcore faked it the whole time. Sister Donnelly also came and got to talk to the Bishop because shes working on going to the temple to do baptisms with the Relief Society next month.

Then we went to Deerfield and Waterloo and taught some more people the gospel.