The Best 18 Months For My Life

I'm pretty sure that I'm still on a spiritual high from this week.

On Monday night, the Trail Center sisters were able to have a meeting with Elder James B. Martino from the seventy. He spoke to us about how privileged we are to have the Trail Center as such as an incredible resource to teach people. We are so lucky to have a place where the Spirit is so strong and present and it provides such a perfect setting where we can help others feel the Spirit as well. I absolutely love being able to serve here.

On Wednesday we were able to have our zone conference with Elder Martino and, towards the end, I felt like my head was going to explode from all of the information that I was able to receive. Both he and President Gardner focused their training's on how important it is that remember who we are: disciples of Christ and children of God. Satan wants to do everything he can to make us forget that because if he succeeds, he wins. We can't let him win. Elder Martino also talked to us about how we hear sometimes that "these are going to be the best 18-24 months of your life." He then told us that "I hope that isn't true. Life should get better and better. But these are going to be the best 18-24 months FOR your life." I loved that because it helped me realize that everything that I'm learning right now is for my future. It's helping me learn how to be a good wife and mother and is teaching me how I can live a Christlike life while I am here on this earth and beyond. I am so grateful that I am able to be the Lord's missionary and for the love that I have been able to grow for my Heavenly Father and Savior.

It finally snowed this week. I'm sure that it's just a little taste of what is to come. Wish me luck!

 Group picture with Elder and Sister Martino. They're amazing!

 The Sioux City gang.

 Oh, Elders.

 GINGERBREAD IS HERE!

Best. Nativity. Ever. (And probably the yummiest.)

Hey, Hey. What Day Is It? HUMP DAY!

We were able to able to have an amazing lesson with Ken and Ka'Ron this week. We met them both at the Trail Center and took them on a tour to show them around and help them feel of the Spirit that is there. As we were moving around the gallery, we could tell that Ka'Ron was enjoying himself, but he was trying to put on a "I'm a cool 14 year-old" face. We started talking more about baptism and when we invited him to be baptized, he had a huge smile on his face and said, "Yeah. I want to!" So he is now set to be baptized on December 5! We are so excited for him and we can tell that Ken is so proud.

It was also transfer week and we found out that Sister Willis is headed off to Eagle Run (I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little jealous that she gets to live with Bob and Lucy) and I get to stay here in Cottonwood and I will be training Sister Chappell. I now have a daughter! I am so happy that I get to be here in Cottonwood with her. We have already been able to see so many miracles and I am so excited to see what is to come.

On Saturday, we got to go to a sealing at the temple. Elder and Sister Laing, a senior couple at the Trail Center, have been married for a year and chose to be sealed in the Winter Quarters temple while they are here on their mission. It was such a special day and I feel so grateful that they let us be a part of it. I had never been to a sealing before and it will definitely be something I will never forget. I can't really begin to describe the Spirit that I was able to feel, but I definitely was able to receive confirmation letting me know that what I was witnessing was real. That families really can be together forever and for that I am so eternally thankful.

I love and miss you all so much and I hope you have a wonderful week!

 Hump Day slash Bump Day

 Meet Sister Chappell!

 Happy 9 months!

Teach Me How To Missionary

There was so much good that happened this week. On Monday, we were able to help clean the temple which is always such a blessing. I always feel a little silly because I never feel like I'm cleaning anything because it's already spotless. It reminds of my house back home. (Thanks mom!) I absolutely love the temple and feel so thankful that I get to help keep the Lord's house clean for Him and all those who come through.

The definite highlight came on Saturday with Ken's baptism. I don't think I have ever seen a baptism run so smoothly which was such a huge blessing. Ken's mother, grandmother and uncle where able to come which helped make it a special day for him. The Spirit was so strong throughout the program and it honestly felt so natural to see him be baptized. Every time I am able to see someone take that next step, it reminds me of the reason that I am out here and it really does make all of the hard times worth it.

Saturday evening, we were able to go to a Stake Women's Conference and listen to our Stake President, President Derrick, speak to us. Something that he said that stuck out to me was that "God cares more about the process than the outcome." There are a lot of times in life when we don't understand exactly why things happen, and sometimes they don't end up the way we think that they should. But when we look back, we can see that it was the experience that shaped us, not where we ended up. I have definitely been able to learn more about that on my mission on days where I wonder why I am here and what I'm really doing. But I have a strong testimony that God has a perfect plan for all of us and, as long as we trust Him, He will lead us where He needs us to be. We just have to be willing to act.

I don't think I'll ever be able to say that I'm a "professional missionary". But I definitely feel like I'm getting the hang of things and am finally understanding what missionary work is all about. I love this work with all my heart.

 One of our hobbies: getting free bread sticks at Fazoli's.

 Meet Ken. He's a Mormon now.

A Week of Both Tricks and Treats... and More Treats

This week I had the opportunity to be invited to a training meeting where the head of the Missionary Proselyting Department in Salt Lake came and talked to us. He spoke to us about how we can plan better and that by doing that, we will be able to see so many more baptisms and be more successful. His name is Brother Donaldson and he was actually the Mission President in San Diego during the filming of District 2 (I thought all of you missionaries and RM's out there would appreciate that) It was such an incredible meeting! We were able to learn about how we can follow the divine pattern from God which is to plan at night, prepare in the morning and do during the day. We were told that this is the pattern that the Brethren follow and were promised that if we do the same, we will also be able to be successful and come closer to the Spirit not only on our missions, but also in our lives at home.

We saw Ken again this week and he told us that he is counting down the days to his baptism. I still can't believe that it is actually happening this coming Saturday. We have been able to see so many miracles!

And those miracles continued throughout the week. On Friday, we were able to find 3 new investigators in 2 hours and were even able to get into a house! This is probably sad to admit, but that hasn't happened for me yet when I've tracted, so that was pretty exciting!!

I really do feel pretty spoiled being at the Trail Center. Our sweet senior couples threw us a Halloween party and we even got to dress up. I found a Snow White costume at Goodwill for $5 and I'm pretty sure it's made for a 12 year old. But, hey, it fit! We had so much fun and were even allowed to watch "The Cokeville Miracle". Oh my goodness, if any of you haven't seen that movie, watch it right now. They did an amazing job with it!

I hope that the rest of you had a Happy Halloween. I cannot believe that November is already here, but there are so many incredible things coming. I can't wait!

 Sometimes we don't want to get ready on P-Day, so we play Phase 10 instead.

 Happy Halloween!

Is Sister Willis not the cutest Newsie you've ever seen?