So..... What To Say.....

Hello, Family!

So...What to say....

This week was good.  My favorite part is watching the Randolph family act out BOM stories.  We've decided that the ward is going to be taking over the new member lessons, and we are going to focus on just teaching them stories and reading with them.   They're so funny.  They were acting out the story of Ammon and they had one of the boys pretend to be the dead arms.  It was so cute and absolutely HILARIOUS.  He started baaing like a sheep in the middle of it.  I love hearing them pray, too.  One of them thanked Heavenly Father for basketball courts.  Hehehe... It was cute.  Oh, and then last time we were there Taja came over to me and asked if I would come and sit on the floor with her so she could play dog.  I told her only if she would give me a hug.  She agreed. And I sat on the floor and "petted" her curly curly hair while we read the scriptures.  :-)

Today we played Lazer tag and went Mini-golfing.  It was fun but it wore me out.  Everyone else in the zone went on a hike, too. I apologized and told them that if I did that it would wipe me out for the rest of the week.  Thankfully SIster Kiernan really didn't want to go either. So we stayed home.  I want to go on the hike eventually. Just not while on my mission.  Our schedule is so demanding anyway that it doesn't even sound fun to go on hikes.  I'm already dead by the time I get home anyway!

So this week we have a record of running into nice drunk people.  It was SO funny.   We were standing outside having a lesson with this man named Chris outside of his house and we were just about to pray when I noticed this man walking up behind us.  He was coming to visit Chris, so I invited him to pray with us before we left.  He agreed to, and just as Sis Kiernan was about to pray, this man began to pray. It seemed like a very sincere prayer and very heartfelt. But he just reeked of alcohol.  THe cool thing is that he wasn't a member and he said the prayer perfectly.  He addressed God, thanked him for things, asked for forgiveness, and closed in the name of Christ.  It was very well done.  We wondered afterwards if he was less active, but when we asked if he was a member, he said no.

It's interesting how many people around her deny that they are members though.  For one reason or another, they just aren't active and when we talk to them they deny that they are members.  I am stilll trying to figure out why anyone would do that. I supposed there's lots of reasons, but none of them make sense to me.

Anyway...

TO the individuals:

Dad- I don't think I've heard from you for 2 weeks now.... :-(  Maybe I'm just remembering wrong.  But I miss your letters. No forgetting me now!  ;-)

Mom- I'm glad to hear that the letters will be in your/Dad's care soon.  You are welcome to open the box to look at them, just don't lose anything. Thanks! I love you!  There are Baptism programs and other random things throughout it, too.

Lynz- Missing your letters.... :-(  Oh, and the heart bracelet you made me has fallen off my wrist. I've worn it every day since you gave it to me-- almost a year! And I know you sent me the bracelet from salt lake, but I think I need another one handmade by you. ;-D  I like the colors blue and purple and white. Please? You don't have to make it those colors, but just so you know.  :-D

Eric- Missing your letters, too. About 3-4 people have said you were all grins and giggles at your wedding. Tell me about it, please!

Crystal- Thanks for sending me pictures! They are SO BEAUTIFUL!  I love them! and I wish I had a way to print them so I could put them on my study desk... But mom said she'll send some. So I just need to be patient.  But it looks like it was a lot of fun.

Ok family, I have to go now.  But I love you all! 

Love, Me

Such a HOOT!

Dearest Fam-bily,

Oh, where to start... 

The baptism on Saturday was amazing.  The Randolphs are so cute.  Jamal (the dad) is probably one of the most humble men I've ever met. He was all full of gratitude and just so happy.  He is a man of few words, so the words he does speak are powerful. ANd more than half of them are words of gratitude. He sent us a text yesterday that just said theank you in it.  It was sweet.  The kids were all great. They crack me up. Terrence and Tavante are so full of energy and are expert dancers.  Way cute. And their older sisters Damisha and Asura are so beautiful. They have a heavy load on their shoulders with no mother in the home, but they keep everything in good order and take really good care of the rest of the kids.  Taja is the baby. She's 4 and SUCH A HOOT!  Remember when Lynz used to run around and act like a dog when she was little? Well, Taja is the SAME EXACT WAY!  If you find that dog tail we gave lynz back in the day that tucks into the back of her pants, feel free to send it my way to pass on the love.  Taja would LOVE IT! HAhaha  sometimes the only way to get her to calm down is to convince her to lay down beside me while I scratch behind her ears.  Do you remember those days, Lynz?

It would be a lie to say that I didn't cry at all on Saturday that I couldn't be at the wedding. But I did well until about 5pm when I broke down.  That was because of a few things though. One of which was when an investigator bailed on us for an appointment. We were going to go to a baptism.  Mom, Remember the less active B family that you told me about where a member of the 70 went and met with them and then they became active and Sis B began investigating? Hehe Yup! Sis Tait's family!  I was totally going to be at the baptism but because our investigator bailed on us, I couldn't go.  I was pretty upset.  It didn't help that I'd been trying to not think about how I was missing Eric's wedding.  Anyway, send Sis Tait my love and tell her I really tried to be able to go. We spent an additional 20 minutes trying to get someone else to go at the last minute. 

Ok, so remember Dusti?  Well, another miracle happened this week with her. We had invited her to go and play softball on some church teams, and she said she was gonna come but she didn't show up.  So, we left the game and went to her house.  As it turns out, she had a really crummy day, and then we showed up!  That's the 2nd time that's happened.  She has a bad day, and we show up. Cool, huh?

Tomorrow is Zone Development Meeting. That also means interviews with President Ellsworth. I'm excited, except that it ALWAYS goes into my nap time and my nap schedule is off.  We got new floors in our apartment this week because our fridge leaked and messed up the floor. It was the perfect excuse though for Sis. Bawden to put in new floors that she's been wanting.  The only bad thing was naps were messed up because they weren't in consistant places at the same time. That's not so good, and rather frustrating.  I've learned though on my mission that what the doctors say about sleeping habits are true.  If I sleep at the same time everyday in the same place, then I sleep better and feel more refreshed when I have to wake up. I've learned I need to be kinda a stickler on making sure that happens consistantly. Some may call it selfish, but they get over it. I make sure I am patient about it though when explaining it so that they understand why it needs to be that way.  It's seems to be working fine and people do understand, I just get frustrated when they forget. It's usually only then that I really feel selfish because I begin to wonder if my priorities are messed up.  SO then I give in. And become a monster because I'm tired and frustrated and I later have to explain the reason I was acting that way.   But for the most part it's good. I try to be flexible in like a 30-45 minute time radius. I'm usually ok then.

TO the individuals:

Mom- I'm looking forward to the pictures!

Dad- I tried to convince my companions to support me in suggesting geocaching for a zone activity. To no avail.  :-(

Lynz- I need a letter from you. And if you want to write your testimony and send it to me to read to some girls like 11-13 years old, I would appreciate it.  It's for Damisha, Asura, and Sophia. Do it for a personal preogress thingy. It's gotta fit in there somewhere....

Erstal- Congrats on your new life together.  We can finally kick you out of the singles ward...err... I mean, have fun in the family ward! ;-D Love you both!  Hope to hear from you SOON!

Ok. That's about it. Love you lots.

Love, Sis Stephens

Hello!

Hi everyone!

Ok. SO I'm short on time today, BUT I have to tell you all how much I LOVE CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!!  I was so sad when it was over.  I could just sit there and listen to them ALL DAY!  I can't wait for the ensign to come out!

This week was AWESOME!  We had 11 investigators watch conference on Sunday and even more on Saturday.  This weekend is going to be amazing! A WHOLE FAMILY getting baptized, AND Eric getting MARRIED! What could be better than that?!  Well, it could get better than that. Like me being able to go to the wedding, but that's ok. The lord keeps reminding me that I'm where I'm supposed to be. Even though I tried to argue a little.

So. the mormon.org thing starts today!  Billboards, internet, tv, everything just FLOODED with Mormon.org.  SO COOL!  We're supposed to be getting time this week to be able to finish our profiles.  Have any of you made one yet? I promise I will have one.  I've started it, but I didn't have a good picture, plus limited internet access makes things difficult.

So obviously the work is going great.  It's still too hot here, but it's getting better.  I love you all!  MWAH!

Love, Sister Stephens

Transfers!

Hello, family!

We found out transfer news yesterday!  Haha... We accidentally slept through the phone call on Saturay night. It always comes so stinkin' late!  But we called the Elders right at 6:30am to find out what's happening. It was kinda amuzing to hear them answer the phone all groggy froggy sounding. Especially since Elder Nuku is Tongan and we, well, I can't ever understand anything he says on the phone. Lol. But the news is CRAZY!!!!!

So. Sister Kiernan and I are together for ANOTHER transfer. It's only our 3rd together, but this will be her 7th transfer! 10.5 MONTHS!!! Which means we'll also be sending Sis K home. But the twist comes in the form of area shifting and a second companion. Sister Naulu (she was in the MTC with me) is joining Sis K and I to make a trio. I am really excited about it, but I am struggling a little too.  I don't like trios.  My last trio was my first companionship which wasn't so hot.  I have this tendancy to end up being the third wheel and so I'm nervous about how this is going to be. I told Sis K that, so she is aware at least....  ANYWAY. The funny thing is that Sis N was with Sis Orton is the other half of our stake. So for a little while we thought they were combining our areas (9 wards! AH!) Then we found out they're not. BUT both of our areas are being split.  Some Elders who will be whitewashing are taking 3 of our wards, and 2 of Sis N and Sis O. We will be tking the other 4.  CRAZY! But Sis K and I were looking at the people that are in the wards that the elders are taking and elders will be SO GOOD for them!  I am actually REALLY excited.  I know there are people in those wards whose hearts the elders can touch.  I'm excited to see what happens.  A great comfort is that the two wards we're keeping from our area are the two wards with the most work. hehehe....  So. Transfers will be great. And Sis O is going to Sis Robinson (she was my companion in my first trio) in Scottsdale. 

Oh the excitement that comes with CHANGE!

So I have to tell you! In one of the wards that the elders are taking over, there is a lady who is 101 years old being taught!  SO COOL!  Her name is Iddy.  And she's getting baptized this weekend. We get to sing at the baptism. :-)  She asked her caregiver for an application to be mormon. So cute!

Akio is still on for baptism on Oct 22. And the 11 yr old boy that we're teaching is still getting baptized this weekend.  We're excited for it!

Mom- I remember the Ironyas. I went to his funeral. I don't know them personally really, but what a cool experience for their family!  Did you give Brian my card? Hehehe....  And you saw Ross Viens? Wow. I haven't heard his name for what seems like AGES!  I'm so glad to hear he is active and married and happy.  Wow!

Dad- It sounds like the work is AWESOME at home!  Tell me about the people that are being taught.  I want to hear stories, too!  I miss stargazing!  I don't know how it constituted daddy-daughter dates either when I ran in to get warm, but hey! They're fond memories! hehehe...

Eric- I got the announcement this week!  YAAAAAAYYYYY!!!!!!!!  I love you lots.  I'm really excited that you're getting married. Don't forget to send me pictures!  I might die if you don't.  Oh and someone suggested you could print a life sized picture of my head to hold up in the pictures.  Just passing the word along....

Crystal- Ask Eric if you can read the letter I gave to him before I entered the MTC. It has the story in it of how I decided to come on a mission.  I can just imagine you and Eric playing Monopoly Deal. Monopoly is his favorite game in the world. Well, it used to be at least. but no one would play it with him because it takes FOREVER and because he always wins.  Maybe he was cheating in that game, too... hahaha..  Hey what is your address...and/or soon to be address. I might have more time to handwrite letters... 

Lynz- I'll be watching for that letter!  Have you gone out with the sisters lately?  I LOVE YOU!!! And i'm hoping to send a journal home soon.  ;-)  I don't know how soon, but soon.

ok. i got to go. I love you all!  X's and O's all around!

Love, me

Transfer News!

Transfer news!

We have a TON of curve balls this time, all of which came out of NO WHERE. Well, we knew the transfers would be crazy, but we weren't expecting some of the things that are happening.

I am being transferred.  I am going back to the Maricopa Zone, to the area right next to my greenie area. If I knew the area boundaries, I would tell you. but I don't so you'll have to wait.  My "new" companion is actually a former companion- Sister Davenport.  It's her last transfer, so I'll be sending her home.  

We got 2 new full field english sisters.  Apparently we got the second one last minute. AND Sister Volk is training one of them! Hehehe... She'll be a great trainer.

Sister Tanner, Sister Brown, Sister Holliday, Sister Czappa, and Sister Christensen are leaving. 

My greenie area is being whitewashed by elders.

Elder Harrison is one of my new zone leaders or district leaders.One of the two. Can't remember which.

And yeah. The rest of the information probably wouldn't mean a whole lot to you, so I'll stick with that.

I am excited/sad to get transferred. I don't want to leave my area, but I know it's time. Bleh. It shouldn't be allowed. My next area will be GREAT.

The investigators in this area are non-progressive at the moment.  We haven't heard from Carol, other than we heard she's gonna be moving to Michigan to live with her sister.  :-(   And Hattie isn't doing well.  She's been really sick lately. And yeah... Temporarily out of order.

We did have a really cool experience though this week. our investigator's dad is on his death bed and we got to speak with him for a few minutes. The spirit was SOO strong and we told him a little about the Plan of Salvation. He told us to come back, which we've tried, but he's been sleeping or on the phone every time we come over. We're gonna try to come by again tonight.  But he was so sincere about wanting to learn more and if he dies with a knowledge of these things, not only will he be enlgihtened as to where he is going, but imagine how cool that knowledge (the knowledge that thier dad died believing in the Plan of Salvation) would be for our investigator and his family! It, just like everything, is a work in progress.

Mom- I can't believe Brian is engaged! (Congratulations, Sister Tait!  Tell Brian I'm excited for him!). And Lisa having twins! And Laura having #3! And Lacey is pregnant?!?! Whew! So many things going on! Please tell Becca I love her when you see her.  It feels like she should have been home FOREVER ago! She left only 6 months before me?  Thanks for the mini package! :-D

Dad- I missed hearing from you!

Lynz- Did you send your pictures?  I haven't gotten them yet.  However, the mission office holds all mail right before transfers so that nothing goes amiss. So it's probably there.

Eric- To be continued...

Ok. I'm lacking in lots of news this week. I'll let you know how everything goes with transfers... and everything...

Love, me

So, I Got Hit in the Face...

Hey family!

So.  I got hit in the face twice this week while playing sports. I know. I know. That does sound strange. Me? Play sports? H! I laugh in the face of danger! (Especailly when I'm in pain) The first time I got hit? Soccer. REALLY hard ball. It had just been pumped up.  That was the right side of my face. Ouch!  And the second time?  Wallyball. Softer ball. Left side of my face. No damage. It hurt, but I'm still alive.

Hmmm...

The investigators are doing well. Only one is progressing, but we have appointments set up for this week with like 4 more investigators which should fix the problem.  Please feel free to pray for them though. Especailly Carol. She had a heart attack on Friday night. She called her fellowshipper and told her fellowshipper that Carol's life would never be the same. We don't know what that means though because she has been released from the hospital and we don't know where she is now, and we haven't seen or talked to her since the heart attack. So. Prayers. Please. And for Phil, Mimi, Hattie, and Brenda if you think about it

Oh. SO we find out transfers on Saturday. Speculation. Here goes it.

We have NO IDEA what is going to happen, which is always the case since we don't find out until next Saturday anyway. However, we usually still make guesses and this transfer we just have no idea.

I am most likely leaving though. 7.5 months in an area is a long time for a Sister to be in one area (at least in the AZ Mesa Mission).  9 months (1/2 of my mission!) would be crazy.  But, who knows?  The thing that is throwing us off in our predictions is that we have 17 Full field English sisters in our mission right now.  5 of whom are going home (Sisters Tanner (my trainer), Brown (my wanna-be companion), Holliday (former companion), Czappa, and Christenson) .  And last transfer we had 1 Full Field English sister go home (Sis Bingham) and none come in. So, between last transfer and this transfer, we are down 6 sisters. and we're only getting one new full field English as of right now that we know of. We will be down 5 SISTERS! 12 of us LEFT!  We are thinking that some areas will be white washed with Elders or visitor's center sisters. OR they might have some of the visitor's center sisters go full field.  They usually do at least 1-2 transfers. We don't really know though what is going to happen. It's going to be EXCITING!

 

Ok. To be honest, I'm falling asleep. I don't know what the deal is, but I am tired and unfocused. BLURRRR...  So, a few individual comments before I sign off.

Dad- I hope everything gets figured out quickly. I'll add my prayers to yours. I love you! You're the BEST!

Mom- I'm sad I didn't get to hear from you this week, but I will be looking forward to this package dad mentioned.  Have fun at Girl's Camp! You can get me a shirt if you want. :-D

Eric- I love hearing from you.  Have fun at Cory and Charisse's when/if you get to go in a month or so. i had to tell you now or I would forget.

Lynz- I CAN'T WAIT to see those pictures! Oh. and have fun getting your wisdom teeth out.  We'll have to swap crazy stories.  Oh. Wait. I don't have any.  :-D

Naomi- It was SO GOOD to hear from you and Bella!  I'm not gonna say more than that because I am going to handwrite you today. (YAY!) Tell Bella that her pictures are BEAUTIFUL and that I am saving them forever!

I love you all.  XOXOXOs all around!

Love, Me

We Heard An AMAZING Story!

SO. Hi, Family!

We found a new investigator this week. Her name is Brenda.  She is really nice and has TONS of questions.  She already has a strong christian background and has seen many a miracles in her life.  I thought for sure she would read the BOM between our last appointment and our visit tonight.  But we called her this morning and she 1)cancelled because she's sick (she said she was going to the doctor's in a few minutes)  and 2) she hasn't read.  She prayed to know if she should read it, but the answer she got was kinda a lecture.  She said that God told her that he had given her so much already that why should she go and read and rely upon a whole new book.  I think we're going to have to work on answers to her prayers. Lol. Not really. We just didn't explain the BOM well enough last time, so we need to go over it again. Some of the things she was saying as reasons not to read were right in line with reasons why she should read. It's funny how that works.

We also heard an AMAZING story. Sorry if it doesn't flow too well. You know how scattered brains work. Lol. So. Get this:

One of our ward missionaries, Brother Seegmiller, comes to our weekly meeting and tells us that he got a phone call from a lady to set up an appointment to come and get pictures of two Indian boys for their missions. (Bro. Seegmiller owns a photography shop and does mission pictures for free).  So these two young men come in and and Bro. S is told this story about their lives.

These two young men were born into the lowest class in India.  They speak a language called Tamel (the upper class speaks Hindi) and as members of this class, they are looked down upon (basically for having bad Karma) by society. So the kids grow up basically in the slums, but then it gets worse.  One of the family members get Leprosy, so the whole family is banned to a leper colony. So now instead of just being "lower class-men", they have become the untouchables.  And for the rest of their life they are sentenced to basically catching rats for food and emptying chamber pots for a few coins.  Not much to aspire to.

So, their mom has no way to feed them and take care of them so she gives them up to the local orphanage.  Fortunately, the owner of the orphanage just so happens to be a member. The boys and the mom get baptized. Time passes. A woman in Mesa hears about them and feels inspired to sponsor them. She flys them to America, and for the past 5 years they've lived here and gotten an education. They turn 19 and 21 and decide to serve missions.

India has only 2 missions and only natives can proselyte. So each got called to different missions in India. However, the boys can't speak Tamel or the upper class-men won't listen or even acknowledge them.  But they can't speak Hindi either because they won't know it well enough even if they learned it as a second language because natives will be able to tell that it isn't their first language.  So what language can they speak without being rejected? ENGLISH!  WOOT! WOOT! In India, english is the sign of an educated person.  And the boys have just spent 5 years in America perfecting the language. Isn't that cool?! I think the boys definitely had some divine interference in their lives!

Ok. So yeah. Good story. 

Guess what?!?!  Today I got to see and handle an original copy of the Book of Mormon!  There is a lady in Mesa who owns an antique book store, and she has this copy of the BOM in a fire-safe box in her store. SO COOL! She is a convert of 50 years.  And we're hoping to be able to teach her sister (who know the BOM is true, but won't commit to baptism because she is an all or nothing kind of person and doesn't want to have a calling...) and so....yeah. She might be our Zeezrom, Eric.

Let's see...

Mom- I love you! I'm glad you are going to lessons with the sisters. Way to be a member missionary! 

Dad- I'm glad the DO BBQ went well!  I want to see the corn in your gardens.  I think it's kinda funny that you are growing corn in such a little space. hehehe...

Eric- Your essay was sooo GOOD!   Did you really sell your motorcycle?  I sure hope so. I mean, I know you looked good and everything, but our stake High counselor here over missionary work lost an eye motorcycling. He had a stick hit him in the face and... yeah... I like to think you are safe. Lol. I am happy you got to go on a writing retreat. How COOL!  Send me more of your writings when you have a few.  I love reading them. They are quite profound. Love you! oh and tell Lindsey Ker I said hi and that I can't remember whose turn it is to write. Lol. That's what happens after long breaks between letters.

Lynz- How are the softball games going? Is your ankle all better? Did you get my letter? Just so you know, I am expecting a letter from you this week. ;-P Write me a story or something if you can't think of anything to write.  I wrote one to my past roommate Mariah.  I didn't have anything to say, so I made something up. Lol. that way it's her turn to write to me. ;-D And don't forget about the memory card.

Ok. I am running out of things to say. All is well. I'm still falling asleep. As always. And faking it sometimes for amusement purposes (no worries, not during lessons. Just zone activities or other random occasions). What can I say?

Oh, Sister Jensen (my roommate in the MTC, who is home now) is getting married. Woot! Woot!  It makes me happy.

Love you!

Me.

Hello!

Hey family!

So. Today is pday. Yesterday we had zone conference, so they switched out pday around.  Don't worry, I didn't forget about you!

This week has been C-R-A-Z-Y! 

Monday- Dropped Sis Bingham off at the mission office

Tuesday- Went on exchanges with Sister Tanner and Sister Withers since I didn't have a companion

Wednesday- Picked up my new companion, Sister Volk. (She's awesome. She is a musical theater major at BYU, so she's a really good singer.  She is from West Chicago and she's been out for one transfer longer than me.) After that, we took our car to the shop because the key clicker thing on our key cabin to unlock the car doesn't work.  We were expecting them to just give us a new battery, but when that didn't work, they checked all of the codes and everything to make sure they can communicate with each other, which they still can't. So we had to take it in on Friday when we had more time so they could take our car apart and fix the wiring... To be continued...

Thursday- We actually did some missionary work. Well more than we've been able to thus far at least.

Friday- We took our car in again.  The took it apart and put it back together and told us that they had to order a new part- ALL SO THAT A STUPID KEY CLICKER THING WOULD WORK!!!  but we have to do it while the car is under warranty... We will be returning later this week to have it fixed once and for all.  Hopefully.  Then we spent the rest of the day packing. Ugh.

Saturday- We moved.  And then spent lots of time unpacking. And weekly planning.  Which 3 days later we still haven't finished... Sadly, we may just be wingin' it this week.

Sunday- we had church all day, which was our first day in the Brimhall ward. It was good. I'm looking forward to getting to know the ward better.

Yesterday- Zone conference. we have a new key indicator (the numbers we report at the end of each week) we are not only counting how many investigator lessons we have with members present, but we are also counting how many of those lessons are in members' homes.  This should be a new and exciting challenge.  We are also playing a "Where's Emily?" version of Where's Waldo with in our zone.  To motivate us to talk to everyone, we are looking for a woman named Emily and when we meet her, we are to report to our zone leaders that we found her. They in turn let us choose one of 3 mystery prizes, which are just dumb things like sausage links or something... I don't really know...

And all the while, we've been juggling various lessons.  Fun, right?

So yeah. That was my week.

Dad- I want the card because sometimes I forget my camera, so there are pictures on our phone that I want but can't get without a card to put them on.  :-D

Mom- I got your card and your email today.  I am glad that you think of me all week. ;-)  I love hearing about the garden. It makes me laugh. 

Oh and I must say- I CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THESE PPL ARE GETTING MARRIED!  AHHH!  Tell them congrats for me.  And that I love them.

Cory- Did you send me a letter this week?  If you did, it may take a little longer since we moved and stuff, but I was just wondering if you had written...

Eric- Thinking of you always. I hope things work out.  Between everything going on.  I love you.

Lynz- I got your letter the day after I emailed you. It made me happy! 8-D Don't forget the pics! Feel free to throw some in there of Dunc, too. hehehe...

And last but not least-- Sister Tait requested a bit of my testimony, so here's the first thing that came to mind...

In teaching and studying the Plan of Salvation, my love for it has grown tremendously.  Not only is it my favorite way of showing people that God is completely just and completely merciful, but I have also come to realize just how wrong Satan's plan is. 

Usually in teaching the Plan of Salvation for the first time, we don't talk about Satan's plan.  It just leads to deeper doctrine that takes us way off subject.  People will eventually learn it, but the first time investigators hear the lessons, they need to hear more about God's love, than Satan's rebellious nature.  However, one of the things that I have learned since coming on my mission was that Lucifer's plan was not only wrong in that it took away agency, it was wrong because Satan was cheating.  I never identified his plan of action as "cheating" before, but that is what it was.  He wanted to cut corners to get what he wanted.  He wasn't willing to work for what he wanted.  And he was willing to deprive everyone else of things that were good to get what he wanted.  

I don't have time to go into more detail, but in learning this, I realized that for me Satan's plan was not only wrong, but it is repulsive. And I am so thankful that I chose to follow Christ. I know that God's plan is the right one.  I know that Christ is my Savior and Redeemer and that the Plan would never have worked without His sacrifice.  I LOVE THE PLAN OF SALVATION!!!

Ok. I love you all! xoxoxoxo

Love, me!

Love From AZ!

Hello, Everyone!

This week was great. We have about 6 new potential investigators, 4 of which are a family.  I am so excited about it! However, this will be the first time I've taught a family this large so it will be an interesting experience for sure.  It is actually our miracle of the week.  We taught the dad a few weeks ago (he's really busy, so we haven't been able to meet with him since then) and he seemed to like what we taught.  He committed himself to read the Book of Mormon in 4 days, which he didn't do, but he said he has read most of it.  Anyway, we kept trying to call him with no luck setting up appointments.  So on Wednesday we were outside getting into our car at the church and he drove up and said he was sorry for not being able to set up appointments with us.  He then said that he had read most of the book of mormon and he has decided that he thinks it's about time his family joins him in the discussions! Woot! Woot! (He's protective over his family, as he should be, so he wanted to hear what we had to say first)  Anyway, we're still trying to work with his schedule, but we are quite a bit more hopeful than we were before. 

So transfers. Sister Bingham is taking her transfer into the sky tomorrow. We have to drop her off today at the mission home and for a few days I will be with Sister Tanner and Sister Withers.  I'm excited about it.  My new companion's name is Sister Volk, and I am SUPER nervous about it.  I don't like transfers. Especially when I don't know my new companion.  Flashbacks of hard times keep repeating themselves through my brain and I don't like it one bit. And it happens every transfer that I get a new companion. Ugh...  I have heard good things about her, but it's still a leap of faith...

Also, I am whitewashing for the 3rd time.  I am still in the same area, but the zone leaders are taking over our single's ward, which i am SO bummed about. However, I am excited/nervous about the new ward I get to be a part of.  It's called the Brimhall ward. I've heard alot of good things, I'm just nervous. But. That's what the Lord wants, (I have to keep reminding myself about that. Lol) so obviously that's what is going to happen.  It's for the best anyway. The zone leaders live with one of the bishopric members, so they always knew more about our singles ward than us anyway especially since our ward mission leader was always working so we could NEVER get a hold of him.  It was kinda frustrating.  BUt now he's engaged and we/now the zone leaders have a new WML who is going to be AMAZING.  And who will also be engaged soon if the pattern continues.  Who would ever imagine that would be the pattern in the single's ward. ;-P

We supposedly will be moving this week. Brother Rowley (the high councilmen over missionary work) has been looking for a new place for us to live for MONTHS. And we are supposed to move out this week. SO. We are waiting to hear what exactly will be happening. Yesterday Bro. Rowley said they had a couple of offers (we always live with members here) so hopefully one of them works.

Hmm...

Mom- I didn't get an email from you this week. :-(  Did it not go through again?  Dad said you are excited about the radishes growing in the garden. I am excited for you.  It seems like the three of you are having a blast learning about green thumbs.

Dad- I tried looking for the planets you said, but a) I could only look going in and out of houses, and b) I didn't know when or where to look.  Oh well. I tried. And I saw the big dipper. And still thought of you... The heat is still a killer. It helps remind me why I like the cold more. Lol.

Lynz- I'm hoping to hear from you this week (hopefully) accompanied by pictures of you in your prom attire. Yes? Please? PS- I ate a cucumber. A whole one. They're growing on me.  But not pickles. Never pickles.

Eric- How are you?  I haven't heard from you recently.. OK. Maybe I did. At least a 1 or 2 liner 2 weeks ago . But still.  :oP How is the new(ish) job? And the social life? And school? And church? and everything? Please tell!

Cory- I didn't get a letter form you this week.  So. It's either late because of the mission office, or you forgot about me because of the busy life of a father, husband, and teacher.  Understandable. but I miss your letter.  :-( They make me laugh.

Danny- My wall is very bare.  And is in need of pictures colored by my nieces and nephews. yes?

Tammy Johnson- I talked to Elder Bennion. It took him a minute to remember who you were since apparently he's only met a you 1 or 2 times.  But when he realized who I was talking about, he got very excited.  :-D (PS You should tell Tyler to write to me)

Sis D'Addabbo-  Are you still reading my blog? Yes? (If you make a comment on my blog, my mom will forward it to me. ;-) )

I love you, Sister Tait!

Ok. So. I think that's about it. I love you all. Everyone.

Love, me