Where You Want Me to Go

"Mom! It's Those Weird Girls Again!" April 30, 2018

Hey Yinz!
How are ya? I hope you all had a great week! Ours sure didn't pan out the way we thought it would, but it's all good! God has a plan! I officially began my last 6 weeks as a missionary, so pray for me! Haha I'm sure going to need them! Also, CONGRATS MARQUISE ON YOUR CUTE LITTLE BABY! Kayden is adorable!

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Conor is a good highlight! So Conor is great. He's a less active we've been working with who hasnt came to church since he was 8, so he has little to know knowledge of the church. We read through 3 Nephi 11 from the book of mormon, and also talked about how Christ is the good Shepherd and leaves the 99 for the 1. We testified to Conor that he was the 1 and God cared a lot about him. It was just super cool because he expressed some blessings and changes that have come into his life as he has been meeting with us. It was just cool to hear that the gospel truly does change people and help them have a desire to be better!
2. My favorite thing this week was the funny things people say when they think you can't hear them behind the door! We got, "Mom! It's Those Weird Girls Again!", "It's the Jehovah Witness! Turn off the lights!", "That's the third time this week they've knocked!" and my all time favorite, "Baby! Hide the weed it's the Mormons!" It's honestly pretty amusing. People are so funny!
3. We met a guy named Bryce this week and that was a huge highlight! He is a friend of another investigator we have and just happened to be at her house when we visited. He is just so prepared! He recently lost a friend and has been pondering what the purpose of this life is. We testified that God has a plan for all of our lives and that he'd see his friend again. We shared about the Book of Mormon, and what it teaches us about Jesus Christ. He said, "I've studied a lot of different religions. But this, this I hope is true." I just wanted to scream, "YES IT IS!" haha
4. My greatest joy in missionary work is teaching someone to pray. There is nothing more special than helping someone communicate with their Father In Heaven for the first time. This week we helped Bryce pray, and the spirit was so strong as he prayed. You could fell God's love for him fill the room. It was just so cool!
5. On Sunday we had a fireside that was completely centered on Jesus Christ and why we need Him. 22 missionaries came together and sang, "I Stand All Amazed." Yinz, I LOVE music! And I love the spirit that is felt as we sing or play instruments. I love this verse that says, "3. I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt! Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget? No, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat, Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet!" I know that Christ loved us enough to die for us, and because of Him we can receive forgiveness from all of our sins, and help through any hardship we go through. I love you all so much, and I hope you have a great week!

7. 5 lb. bag of gummy bears?!? THANK YOU NORTON FAMILY!

Some things never change

Fishing for investigators

Road Trippin'

A Favorite Quote

The Week I Barely Dodged A Strip Tease! April 23, 2018

Hey everyone!
Holy moly, it's been a crazy week but it's been great! So we have been in a trio with Sister Green, who's companion had to go home, but she will be going back to her area on Thursday. It's been awesome to have her! She's really great! Also, transfers happened and of course I'm staying here to finish training Sister Nilsson. This is my FINAL 6 weeks! How crazy is that? I have so many mixed feelings!

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Gabriela and Ariela Bruno. Holy moly. So you may remember several weeks ago I talked about twins we met who were very interesting haha. Remember the line "do you feel a presence here?" well, these two have changed SO MUCH. They are our most progressing investigators. They have kept all the commitments we have given them and they have true and sincere desire to follow God and to change their lives and follow him. It's been humbling to watch significant changes happen in their lives as they follow the gospel. It is AWESOME. This week we had a lesson with just Gabriela and she invited two friends over to listen to our message. It was so awesome!
2. On Saturday we had absolutely nothing to do, so we went to try a referral for the 123409 time. She wasn't home, so as I was updating it in our area book, I noticed another address for an unnamed daughter. I've looked at this info a million times and never noticed it. So we went, not knowing really what to say, but I'm so glad that we did! We met Desiree. Desiree is amazing, and she glows! I could tell as soon as I saw her that she was something special. Desiree has MS, and it is so bad she doesn't have any use of her legs and little use of her arms. She has such a strong faith in christ! We shared a message about the Book of Mormon and asked if we could come and share about God's plan for his children and she said yes! The spirit that filled the room as we met her was incredible. I'm so excited to teach her!
3. Many of you know that I decided to go home a little early, in June, and have been feeling kind of apprehensive, but I made the decision to do it. Well last Monday I had an interview for a job when I get home and I got it immediately after interviewing! It's the perfect job, and I'll make just enough money to pay for school and it will be a good atmosphere for me when I get home. God has been so aware of me and that was a huge blessing in my life! But it'll have to wait haha!
4. We went to visit an older lady in our ward, Sister Pamula, who hasn't been visited for a very long time. Her health it not good, nor her memory, but she began to tell us about her love for music and singing, something I can relate with very well. We shared a music video to the song "I Stand All Amazed". She immediately began to cry and I started to cry too (I've gotten soft, I know). I'm just so grateful for music and the spirit it brings and the peace we can feel. The spirit testified to both of us that night of the blessings we have because of Jesus Christ.
5. My last not so highlight is that there is a man who has big crushes on me and Sister Nilsson. His name is *enter in drunken slur* Bobby Robby. We met him and Gabrielas house and now he seems to show up every now and then. He is always a little intoxicated when we go which is kind of funny. But one day this week, Gabriela called us in a panic and canceled our lesson with her and said to come the next day. That was weird because she never cancels, but we shrugged it off. When we went the next day she proceeded to tell us about how she had to cancel because Bobby Robby was at her house and was planning on doing a strip tease for us when we came. Well, how grateful I am for Gabriela! Because that would've been bad. I don't think he would have actually done it, but I'm glad she watched out for us. Don't worry about us, he's completely harmless haha, but it was hilarious anyways! This has already been way to long, but I hope you all know that I love you and I care about you so much. This mission has been the greatest experience of my life, and I'm so thankful for the people I have met and lessons I have learned. Have a great week!

Is that Smeagle? April 16, 2018

Heyo everyone!
Look at me, getting my weekly out early today. I'm on a roll. But mostly I've been excited to use my subject line so I wanted to grace you with it quicker. All will be explained shortly.

HIGHLIGHTS

1. HOLY MOLY WE SAW SOME MIRACLES. Firstly, I was on exchanges with Sister Sage this week and we went to visit a less active named pinky. We came and she began to cry and told us about how her 3 month old nephew just died from SIDS. It was so sad. But we were able to comfort her a little and remind her of the Plan of Salvation. One if her sons, Jorge, came out, and he was so excited to see us! Turns out, he's met with missionaries before and really wanted to meet with us again so he could get baptized and receive the priesthood! It was so cool! He's like the most prepared kid ever.
2. Did you know Jimmy John's delivered? I didn't either, until us and a delivery guy were both knocking on a potentials door for 5 minutes together. It was a very funny and weird experience.
3. We finally met a lady named Robin who is a member, and hasn't been to church in many years. She was finally home, and told us about how she just got full custody over two of her nephews. She decided that they needed to know about God, and so every night they have been reading the book for Mormon. The eldest nephew, Robert, is about to turn 8 and really wants to be baptized. He recited to us the whole first vision from memory, it was the coolest thing ever!
4. One day we were out knocking some doors and a guy was sitting on his porch, named Steve. We went up and started talking to him and he told us that his mom was a member of our church and that he had been thinking about the missionaries and wondering if there was any in the area, and we showed up! He was really excited to talk with us and wanted to set an appointment for next week :) Things are going good here in Erie! When I first got here, there was absolutely no one to teach. But with a little hard work and prayer, we have been able to see some great miracles happen. It's been really cool to look at where we are now from when I first got here and how the work has progressed. We still have a long way to go, but it's so great! The gospel is true, and I have witnessed its truthfulness time and time again in the way it changes peoples lives. Most importantly, my life. I love you all, and I hope yinz have a great week!