Home Made Cheez Its, Ice Cream, and Amish Doughnuts- May 15, 2017

Hello every one! Wow this has been such a fast and busy week. But first and foremost, happy mothers day to my awesome mamma! I don't know who I would be without you and your influence, definitely not on a mission though! I love you and miss you tons and seriously enjoyed talking to you! 💜 Also happy mothers day to my mission mamma, Rope Daddy! You da best! 😂 🍦HIGHLIGHTS🍦 1. WE ACTUALLY GOT IN TO TEACH DEE. Dee is an eternitgator who just about never lets us in and we have been bouncing back between dropping her or not since I was a baby missionary. We went in with full intentions to give her what I call the smack down talk (just telling them that if they will not do the things we ask them to do we have to move on and teach other people). So we taught the restoration a little bit and I was just about to get into the smack down and she expresses all these concerns pertaining to the Book of Mormon and baptism that we didn't know she had. By the end she testified to herself that she knew she wasn't making the steps she needed to to know if what we teach is true and had a great desire to change! Let the spirit guide people! 2. We went to the Ellis home on Tuesday! Billy knows that I love hot food, and especially for me he had a habenero waiting for me to eat. I ate the whole thing and didn't even flinch... Until I rubber my eye with my unwashed hand. Long story short, Billy said I am his hero cause I can eat a habenero and not cry😂🌶️ 3. We had a fabulous lesson with our new investigator, chassity! She payed attention so well for her age and had a lot of good things and question during the lesson. She's doing great and it was good for us to remember to teach lessons simply 😄 4. Per usual we went to the Booths and helped garden. Well, I had my first allergic reaction! It must have been some plant, but I broke out in a rash all over my arms and legs, and on top of that, I had got bitten by a spider during the night and my eye was swollen. This Sister was looking rough! The Booths were convinced I needed to go to the ER but I bargained them down to just a benadryl and a nap and I was fine to finish working! 😁 5. We had our final interview with President Johnson before the new President T comes in in June. He had us bear our testimonies to him and share how our mission has changed us and it was so powerful. I will miss the Johnsons! 6.Ummmm....MY UNBIRTHDAY PARTY?! That sneaky Sister Clouse decided she was going to surprise me with an UNBIRTHDAY party! It was so sweet and I was so surprised. She made all my favorite food and gave me some things. I love new bloomfield and it's people so much! 🎂🎉 7. Talking to my family on Saturday! It was so good to see everyone and talk to them and really confirmed to me how important families are and how important it is that I am here on a mission. I also got confirmation that I will be that awkward Return Missionary when I go home 😂😂 8. My final Highlight is just a funny story of my disobedience. Once upon a time Sister Parry noticed they needed to get gas soon, but didn't think anything of it again and they drove a lot that day. Well, as Sister Parry was tossing and turning trying to go to sleep she had a thought, she had forgotten to get gas and there was no way they'd have enough for Sunday and where they would be going. So, at 11:30 at night, far past curfew, Sister Parry wakes Sister Dean from her sleep and makes her go and get gas with her. In the rush to get gas, Sister Parry forgot to put on her seat belt and Tiwi (an electronic system that monitors or driving) harshly chastised me for not having it on. Needless to say, it was an interesting night and the only reason I tell you is because President Johnson already knows! 😂 LOWLIGHT 1.Sister Ellis's 19 year old cat, Fred, past peaceably away this week on Tuesday. He was a good old cat and lived a long life and I'm grateful we got to go and comfort our animal lover, Sister ellis. 🐈 Sorry this is so long, I had a lot to say. I hope you all are doing well and I love you so much! 1-3. For Lunch we went to this cute little park and got to be kids again for a bit! 4. Sister Dean is just cooler than me. 5. This one's for you mom! 6-8. A gorgeous sunset!

1-3. My Unbirthday Party! 4. District meeting (notice how dark I am compared to everyone else lol) 5. Skyping the family!

The Longest Yard- May 8,2017

Hello everyone! I think it's safe to say that this has been the longest week of my mission, and I am so so glad P-Day is finally here. Got to rest up for another crazy week ahead of us! 🦋HIGHLIGHTS🦋 1. Zone Conference! It was probably the best zone conference yet! I am so grateful for the insight and inspiration Sister and President Johnson bring every zone conference, but this one really spoke to me! Also, they showed us a movie, Chariots of Fire, so that's pretty cool. And our zone was privileged enough to be the first zone to watch it 😛 2. We had a really awesome mini lesson with a less active named April and she really wants us to teach her two daughters the lessons and get them towards baptism! Yay! 3. We got to go and visit with Sister Noss, who is doing very well since her surgery. One thing we have been asking people is how the first vision strengthens their testimony and she gave a powerful testimony and then told us after her husband retires they will be going back to church! Blessings! 👍 4. On Saturday we helped at the wards "Mulch and Munch", well only about 6 or 7 people were there and there wasn't any food to Munch on, but it was fun and a lot of hard work! It started POURING half way through and we just kept on working and got it done! Needless to say, many of us have colds now haha😂 5. This Sunday the North America North East region and a conference and we were able to listen to many inspired talks. Elder Oaks gave a powerful talk about the importance of member missionary work that was very inspiring. I'd like to challenge you all to be more involved in the work of the Lord. We all could do better. 6. We got a New Car! Definitely the real highlight 😁 Well I love you all, thank you for all you do for me! Talk to you next week! 1. Waiting for a table for dinner! Describes our companionship perfect😄 2. This week Sister Dean and I listened to nothing but hymns so we rewarded ourselves with some Susquehanna Soft Serve! 🍦 3. Once again, we can't take a jumping picture to save our lives! But we were soaking and nasty and wanted documentation haha 4. The new car! For all y'inz wondering it's a 2017 Toyota Rav4 and its a beaut! Better soak it in before I get transferred (fingers crossed)

Singing In The Rain!! April 24,2017

Hello family and friends! This has been one BUSY week in the New Bloomfield area! I can't even begin to explain the craziness that was this week, with all its ups and downs. We definitely had a lot of really great moments and some really low moments. But, it's all part of God's plan! We just have to trust him and let him know he's in charge and we are willing to submit. On a side note, happy birthday to my awesome dad! I'm so lucky to be your daughter and to have grown up around you. I will forever be grateful for your example as a worthy priesthood holder, a great father, and even a friend at times 😛. I'm grateful for you always pushing me to try and to be my best, no matter what. Your example has truly led me to serve a mission and to submit all my time to the Lord. Love you! 🌲HIGHLIGHTS🌲 1. I just have to write a highlight for my awesome companion, Sister Dean. She is just so great and I love being around her! She makes me laugh like crazy and we just have such a good time. We work hard, of course, but it's great to have a companion who really listens to you and doesn't let you sweat the small stuff. She's the best! 👭 2. Trudy took us to her sister's house for dinner and it was so fun! Her sister still had a big nativity up in her living room and I commented about it, and her husband said, "We keep this up all year round. We celebrate Jesus 24/7, 365!" we then got to talk about why Jesus is important to him and it was really awesome. 😊 3. We had a really great lesson with Dylan!! Unfortunately, Dylan is no longer on date for baptism, and doesn't feel any rush to get ready for it, but we continue to work with him and have plans to ask him again this week! 4. SERVICE. We did soooo much service. Literally we didn't even dress up 4 days out of this week. But service softens hearts, I know this to be true! 💚 5. We received a house blessing. The reason why is definitely not the highlight, but I'm grateful that the Thompsons were so willing to come over and do that for us, I love them! We are now I'm the process of making or house a home 💓 6. Josh Rudy gave a talk about King Noah and said, as if her were Abinadi, "yo, check your self, King Noah, or your about to catch these hands!" His Dad proceeded him and said, "alright guys, I'm about to spit fire." 😂😂 7. We got a lot of rain this week, and got very wet. It was awesome! Everything is getting soooo green! 🌧️ 8. Because it rained while we were helping the Booths, Joan took us in and taught us how to paint, so she knew what to teach the class she is teaching soon. I actually surprised myself on how well I did! This week I was really concerned about what I could do to be a better missionary and I read a conference talk called, "What lack I yet?" by Elder Larry R. Lawrence. In the talk he challenges us all to kneel down and ask Heavenly Father what we need to do to be better followers of Christ, and he promised we would receive and immediate answer. I want you to know that I did recieve that answer very clearly. I know that God answers the prayers of the faithful and I am so grateful I can rely on God to help me with whatever I stand in need of! I love you guys! Thanks for the love and support, it means everything! 💛 1-2. Our first attempt at a jumping photo 😂 3-4. Finally got it! 5. Our investigators daughter gave me some flowers. What a cutie! 😊 6. I told Joan I had just a granola bar for breakfast..... She sent us home with giant bags of food😂😛 7-8. Green New Bloomfield! 9-10. I convinced Sister Dean to make chin people with me, and we laughed soooo hard

Gardening and Butchering- April 17,2017

Hello friends and family! It's been a good week in New Bloomfield, filled with a ton of service again! I think it's safe to say Sister Dean and I are very sore and very ready for a P-Day haha. 🐰HIGHLIGHTS🐰 1. Sister Dean! My new companion came into the area on Tuesday. She's a real sweetheart and just loves everyone so that's awesome ☺️. 2. We had a lesson with Sister Stoke and I asked her if I could use the restroom. She said yes and told me to watch out for the cat. I walk in and there is this HUGE 40 pound cat. I was shocked haha. 3. We went to the Booths to help garden for a while. At first we were going to be planting vegetables in the back, but first we were going to plant some flowers in the front, "should only take 30 minutes", as Joan said. Well, we completely relandscaped the whole front of the house and it took 6 hours. But it was awesome and sister Dean and I left pretty sore and sunburnt haha😂 4. We went to the Gallucci's for dinner and afterwards she told us all about this haunted house she used to live in.... Well that wasn't a good idea and sister Dean and I left terrified haha. 5. Trudy! We went to her home for dinner and she told us next week she's going to help us make our own quilts for P-Day! I'm pretty excited about that 😁 6. We spent Easter with the Nultons and it was awesome! There was a ton of food and she made us Easter baskets! We shared the Prince of Peace initiative with them and invited them to share it on social media and everyone there did! 7. Last but not least........... WE HELPED BUTCHER A PIG. You read that right. And it was AWESOME. Pictures to follow, but don't look if you have a weak stomach. Thank you all for your prayers and kindness! I'm especially grateful for all the cards I have been getting! You guys are the best! I love you all and will see ya next week! 1. Behold, the 40 pound cat. 2. My favorite twins ever dropped of little punny boxes of candy for Sister Dean and I.💓 3-5. Gardening for days! 6. Easter Goodies from the Nulton's and Jenny!

Butchering!! 1 and 2. Selfies with the pig! 3-5. Packaging and cutting. RIP Winston

This Mortal Stuff Sucks!!! April 10, 2017

Another week has come and past. Transfer boards came this Saturday and I will be staying in New Bloomfield for at least another 6 weeks. Sister Roper will be leaving and I will be getting a new companion, Sister Dean, tomorrow. God still has work for me to do here in New Bloomfield I guess, so I'm excited to find out what that is! This was a pretty slow week, filled with a lot of people saying goodbye to Sister Roper and showing the Easter initiative, Prince of Peace with EVERYONE. It was also very rainy haha. But we got a good bit of work done. It's getting really green now so that's awesome! 🌿 HIGHLIGHTS 🌿 1. Exchanges! I lead out the area with my STL named Sister Pena and we had so much fun! We went and had dinner with Ginny and she and her husband made us Amish doughnuts and home made ice cream. AWESOME. She also introduced us to some of her Amish friends 2. We went and visited Sister Noss, who just had a knee replacement. She was in terrible pain and exclaimed, "I wish I was half immortal like Jesus, because this mortal stuff Sucks!" 😂 3. We went to the Galluccis and she did Reiki on us. If you don't know what that is, look it up. I think it changed my life. 😅 4. Sister Roper and I had a goal to hand out 3 Book of Mormons and hadn't handed any out by Saturday. So, we decided to go to Loysville and knock a few doors. Long story short, we handed out all 3 copies right in a row, which NEVER happens. We may even have a very promising new investigator. 5. We had a lesson with Dylan. Need I say more? Haha Dylan brought up a lot of concerns we didn't know he was having and didn't realize there was some things he didn't quite believe that we had taught him. The spirit was just so strong there as we both testified of what we know and he committed to putting in a lot more effort to know for himself if what we taught was true. I was a little discouraged to be staying in the same area for another month and a half and even more worried about having to be the Senior Companion, but I know that God has a plan for me here in New Bloomfield and I just have to work hard and keep a positive attitude! I do love the people and this area, despite how hard it can be at times. I hope my new companion is ready to hid the ground running because I sure am! I love you all, I hope you have a great Easter season! 🐣 "Hope and Healing and not found in the dark abyss of secrecy, but in the light and love of our savior, Jesus Christ"-Carole M. Stephens 1-2. Green fields and Amish schoolhouses! That one's for you mom! Haha 3. Ginnys new cows! 4. Sister Pena, Kayla and I. Also excuse my gang signs. Leave it to me to ruin a good picture. 5-6. Rainy day tracting! We were soaked! 7. Life is good in PA 8-9. My favorites, Axton and Azlyn Clouse!

Can It Be Just Be Spring Already!!! April 3, 2017

Hello everyone! I can't believe it is P Day AGAIN. You'll be happy to know I survived week 11! It was a close one, but I survived haha. Not a whole lot happened this week that I feel the need to report on, so instead of giving a weekly run-down I am going to just do Highlights! 🌻HIGHLIGHTS🌻 1. Last Sunday Billy Ellis gave the closing prayer for Ward Conference. Instead of saying "please bless we will be valiant in keeping the commandments" he said violent. It was hilarious and we have been giving him heck haha 2. Tuesday I hit 3 months! This is my last week as a greenie! 3. We did Family History and in one hour I found 17 names who needed temple baptisms, and indexed 50 names! I love Family History! 4. We had a game night with the Gallucci's and played settlers of Cataan and I was epically bad haha 5. The #PrinceofPeace easter initiative came out! It is INCREDIBLE. I would like to invite you all to watch the video and find ways to learn principles of peace, from the Prince of Peace at mormon.org!🌞 6. Interviews with President Johnson! He's the best and always enlightens me on how I can be a better misisonary 7. Dylan came to General Conference all of Sunday and watched it on his phone at home on Saturday. It was so awesome to watch him listen to Elder Coasta speaking specifically to non members! 8. President Gessell, who was the stake president who helped me with my missionary application, got called as an area seventy! How cool is that?! As always, Elder Holland gave my favorite talk. One of my favorite things that he said is, "Brothers and sisters, we live in a mortal world with many songs we cannot or do not yet sing. But I plead with each one of us to stay permanently and faithfully in the choir, where we will be able to savor forever that most precious anthem of all—“the song of redeeming love”. Fortunately, the seats for this particular number are limitless. … “Come as you are,” a loving Father says to each of us, but He adds, “Don’t plan to stay as you are.” We smile and remember that God is determined to make of us more than we thought we could be." I hope and pray we all continually try to change and let God mold us into the person we are to become. I love you all and am excited to hear from you! Have a great week!

Service, Service, and More Service!!

It's been a wild week! But before I start, last week a lot of people didn't get my weekly, so please let me know if you do so I know it's working again haha. Tuesday was Zone Conference! As usual, it was way awesome! Sister and President Johnson are so inspired and truly are called of God. I received a lot of answers to my prayers. We talked a lot about extending commitments and promising blessings which is probably one of my week points haha. We also got to watch a sneak peek of this year's easter initiative, and it's awesome! You guys are in for a real treat so watch out for it this Friday! Right after Zone Conference Sister Roper got really sick so we stayed in just about all of Wednesday and then went to a Nonmembers home and helped her paint her bathroom. BJ is so funny and really loves God and the church she goes to. She said that her church says a lot of bad stuff about the Mormon church and the missionaries but Sister Roper and I proved them wrong! Haha she said the next time she hears someone talking bad about our church she will yell at them. She even said when we come it's like family coming over. Friday and Saturday we went and painted again, and also helped Trudy and the Booth family clean their houses. So if you didn't guess already, we did a ton of service! But it was good, the people really needed it and sister roper and I got a good work out from it! I've noticed on my mission thus far that people take advantage of me for being tall (wink wink mom). When we painted my whole job was to do the ceiling and edges, so needless to say my back and shoulders will probably be hurting me till next week. Sunday we were literally with Dylan the whole day. We had a lesson with him after church, then he came with us to a members house for lunch, and a members house for dinner. It was so crazy! But we are so proud of the ward for stepping up and inviting him into the ward, we know it helps a ton! HIGHLIGHTS 1. Sister Blazina's mother-in-law, Grammy, swears she will die a Methodist. But lately she has been coming to church and even has a calling now in the primary. She told us that she is a MM, A Methodist Mormon! 2. BJ sent us home with a giant pan of monkey bread.... BLESSINGS. #Sugarcoma 3. Sister Roper chugged a coke, best moment of my life. Video will be on my Google Drive. 4. Last but most certainly not least......... DYLAN ACCEPTED A BAPTISMAL DATE. Yeah, you read that right. This week he is going to be praying about it and we are now helping him take the steps for baptism on April 22. SO EXCITED. This week is week 11 which means I am in charge of everything, basically a senior companion. Pray for me! Haha Quote of the week, "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story" - Billy Ellis

The Storm of the Century!!

Hello everyone! Yes I am alive, I didn't get snowed in or buried in, though it was a close one! This week was a pretty low key week. Monday and Tuesday we were stuck inside due to the snow, so we did a lot of cleaning, studying, and calling people haha. We did do a TON of shoveling, and I think my back is still recovering from that haha. But over the space of two days we got a near 18 inches of snow! Pretty insane haha. This week we did a lot of service for members and that was good. The coming week is going to be full of a lot of service too, but we love it. I know that service really does soften people's hearts to the message of the gospel and have seen it many times already on my mission. I also had a lot of time this week to do family history and it was very cool! I found out that I am related to the girl in "13 Miracles" who prayed for her mother who had given up, to continue going as they pulled handcarts to Utah, and found a pie sitting at her feet when she was done praying. Pretty awesome stuff! It's really cool to find out things about your ancestors and where you come from. One of my highlights from this week was Friday, we had our second lesson with Dylan. We taught the Plan of Salvation and it was just so awesome. He is so humble and ready to learn. I swear every time we meet with him he teaches us more than we teach him. This week he is determined to have his own experiences with the book of mormon and finding out for himself if what we have taught him is true. He was at church again this Sunday, and it is the coolest thing to have an investigator there. I love seeing the ward really stepping up and welcoming him to the family :) Another highlight was Saturday when we went to Lewisberry for a baptism. The sisters in my district and I sang a musical number which went really well. I was just so happy to be there and to be apart of someone coming into the waters of baptism and seeing the happiness on his face when it was over. My final highlight is this week I finished The Book of Mormon for the first time on my mission. At the end of the book there is an amazing promise for those who read it. It says, " And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things". I would like to let you all know that I have prayed for myself to know if the book of mormon is the word of God and I testify to you that it is. It is the most correct book on this earth and tells us exactly how we should live to have happiness in this life and in the life to come. I know Jesus lives. I know he came to the people of Ancient America and taught amongst them. Because The Book of Mormon is true, I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet and I know this church is true. I am sure you guys are tired of hearing it, but I LOVE being a missionary. I love being in Pennsylvania and I love the people. This is the best thing I have ever done! I love you all and I'm so grateful for your letters and prayers. Keep them coming! Don't forget I love pictures and just getting updates on life. Don't hesitate to send them! Haha

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait!!!

Hello everyone! It has been one busy week! I don't have a whole lot to say about this week, but I will fill you in on the highlights! Tuesday we went and had a lesson with our investigator, Asia, and it was really good! We taught the restoration and invited her to be baptized at the end and she said if she came to know it was true for herself she would! So that was awesome. The spirit was very powerful and I hope she could feel that. On Wednesday we got to have a lesson with trinity, our recent convert, and we watched the restoration movie. It was really good and she had a greater desire to read the scriptures and share the gospel, it was awesome. It was super windy that day, but we were determined to hand out three copies of the Book of Mormon. Of course, this was one of the days where people were especially stubborn and unfriendly, but we handed them out! So that's good haha. Thursday was crazy. We went to Liverpool and went knocking. Literally everyone we met slammed a door in our face or rejected us very quickly. So, we went and looked through our area book for people who were listed as potentials. We came to one house and aan came out. He started cussing like crazy and saying Joseph smith was not a prophet, and there were no such thing as prophets besides Jesus. He went as far as to compare Joseph Smith to a murderer and was just saying awful things. We asked him if he had prayed to know if Joseph smith was a prophet and it got quiet. Of course, he said no and immediately tried to give us excuses and prove us ignorant for believing in modern day prophets, but the battle was over. I want you guys to know that I have prayed and I know for myself that Joseph Smith was a prophet, that this is the one true church on the earth today, and the Book of Mormon is the most correct book of God's word to men. No one is going to change how I feel about that. And no matter how many men I might just like this one, I will always know in my heart that this church is true. We also got to go to sister Galluccis and she made bath salts, perfume, lip balm, and tooth powder with us and it was way fun. She knows a lot about home remedies and essential oils, so it was fun to pick her brain. I learned a lot! Sister Gallucci just recently found out she is allergic to gluten, so all the food she's been feeding us lately is gluten free, and it's actually way good! Friday...... best day ever. And let me tell you why. So last Sunday we had someone we didn't know come to church and his name is Dylan Naugle. He is not a member, but his grandparents are. He's 24. We went and introduced ourselves and he was awesome. On Tuesday we ran into him again and he told us he wanted to know more about our church and was interested in becoming a member. A SELF REFERRAL. That NEVER happens. He got our number, and everyday after Tuesday he sent us a text telling us when we could come over to teach him and what days he was available, and kept trying to meet earlier. It was unbelievable! So Friday we had our first lesson with us and he told us he had found a Book of Mormon in his house and had already read 6 chapters and loved what he felt when he read it. He also said that after church on Sunday he went out to go smoke and he couldn't do it. He said it tasted nasty in his mouth and awkward in his fingers, and that was proof to him that he needed to investigate what made this church so special. He has had a way difficult life and has a lot of challenges, but he has turned his life completely around and is finding God in every aspect of his life. He is absolutely AMAZING and came to church on Sunday again and just told us how much he loved it. He will be coming to a baptism for another companionship in our district. He is so great and we know that the only reason we know him and get to teach him is because God put him in our path. We were meant to meet him. I am so excited to see how he progresses and know he is the reason why I am in New Bloomfield! I love you guys and am so grateful for the love you've been sending my way in prayers, letters, emails, etc. You are awesome! Until next week!