Photos from May 18, 2015
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio Dec. 2013 - July 2015
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Letter from the week of May 4, 2015
This week has been crazy, exciting, exhausting physically and spiritually, wonderful, nerve racking, and all of the above! We really saw God's hand all week and I don't even know how he does it all but everything always turns out! We literally had only about 25 hours this whole week to work because we had so much going on and we still say miracles!
Monday was a pretty great P-day. Sister Holtz and I got to spend some time together and just hang out. We went to the church and played some basketball with the other sisters in our zone and S our investigator came with us. She is super solid! She is getting baptized on the 15th and we are stoked! She is already telling everyone about it!!! Anyway, Monday night we had a FHE with a less active member and her family who are all non-members and we are so excited because they less active is the mom and she really wants to start coming back and learning again. We are also teaching her boys and it is going to be great!
Tuesday I got to go to Centerville again because my back was bothering me. I also went and saw J! She is so cute! I know that I am not in that area anymore for a reason though. I am called to be in NKY for a reason. So we had a nice long drive there and back and when we got back here we had some awesome lessons. We went over to the Greenhalgh's home for dinner (Stake President and Relief Society President) and we had S there and it went really well. We are also working with G again and he is working towards the 29th of May to be baptized. Miracles really happen!
Wednesday we had Zone Conference and that is always a huge learning experience! I love gaining more knowledge and figuring out what I can improve on. President and Sister Porter are so inspired and they really are the best!
Thursday we had Zone Weekly Planning and that is always fun! We help the missionaries with their plans and it really is just great! We didn't have our car today because we didn't want to go super over miles and so we had members drive us places and pick us up so that is always exciting.
Friday we had Leadership Council and we were literally there from 9-9. We didn't get home until 9:30 and so we didn't have any lessons that day but I learned a ton! I was really stressed all of Friday night though because on Saturday we were getting to go to the temple with A for the Recent convert temple trip they do the first Saturday of every month so we were super excited that A was going to go. We had a member driving us down and we were all set... until Satan go involved... Our member cancelled Friday night and so that put us in a panic. A was so excited. We literally texted or called over 50 members and tried to get them to take us to the temple... we were not having any luck. We had talked to President about it and he said we will get her there and that was a little more reassuring but we didn't want him to have to take us. Saturday morning roles around and we are supposed to be at the temple and 12 and we did not have a ride yet. It was 9 and we really didn't know what to do. President texted us and said he would come and get us and so that was positive but I still didn't want to make him do that even though it would have been fine. Luckily, I got revelation in the shower haha and I heard that the Centerville Elders were planning on going so we had our zone leaders call them and luckily their member had enough room in their car for us. MIRACLE!!! So the recent convert they were taking was V!!!! The lady I taught when I was in Centerville! It was seriously God's doing! and might I add the elders that are now in Centerville, one of them is Elder Ellis who I just served with 3 weeks ago. It was crazy but yes, Saturday we got to go to the temple and it was so amazing to have 2 of my recent converts there. The spirit was so strong and we also got to do baptisms! Remarkable!
Sunday we had 3 investigators at church and it was another day full of miracles! I just love so much seeing God in every detail of this work.!!!!! I know this church is true and the Atonement of Jesus Christ is for everyone! We can all change! I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that it can really help us through our struggles! I love you so much!
Letter from April 27, 2015
Hi Family, this is what happened this week...not too much.
Monday we had a zone fun day and we played sports and like normal, I killed it lol! We had a lot of fun! We really have the best zone! Monday night we went and had FHE at the Lawals and watched Meet the Mormons and S our investigator was there. She is going to get baptized on the 15th:)
Tuesday we had a legacy meeting and that was pretty cool. We are just the oldest missionaries in the mission and we have to set a standard.
Wednesday we had district meeting and that was great! We went over the BOM lesson. We have a fantastic district! Thursday we did some service and just had a really good day with lessons.
Friday the elders had a baptism and we went and it was amazing! I really love the spirit at baptisms! We were also on exchanges and it was a great day. I will write you a letter today with more details. Saturday we did service in the rain for 2 hours and we were drenched! Fun times.
Sunday we had a stake broadcast that was incredible as well and just an all around great week!
Monday, June 22, 2015
Letter from April 20, 2015
This week really has been totally full of miracles! I could not have done it on my own. It was all God! I had to take over this area and that is a really scary feeling sometimes.
Monday was really sad to have to help Sister Watts pack she really is my best friend but I know that God had a plan for both of us. Monday during the day we went and hung out with the zone to say good-bye to everyone:( Our zone is totally being switched up. Monday night we went to Orange Leaf and had fro yo with E and the Elders. That was a hard good-bye. Monday night we finished packing up Sister Watts and watched Meet the Mormons. I love that movie! Elder Mower's brother sent him some copies and he is letting us use one. I love watching it!
Tuesday was transfers... It was so cool because transfers is in Centerville so I tend to always go back to my old areas hahah. I saw Sister Gifford and Sister Davis there and I love them so much! It was so much fun. Transfer meeting was actually really big this time. It was fun. Sister Watts went to Muncie Indiana... so far away! But I know she is going to do great work there! Then, I got my new companion Sister Holtz and she is great! We have so much in common and it is fun! She is having a harder time getting used to the area but she is awesome! We went out to lunch with the Elders and Ma King and Aaron Perkins. That was great. We embarrassed Elder Mower a little and sang happy birthday to him even though it was a little early. I love our elders though! Tuesday when we got back to our area we went and saw a bunch of people to introduce Sister Holtz. It was actually a really good but busy day.
Wednesday we had to work with the ZL's all morning and set visions for our new zone and plan zone meeting for Friday. That was great. I love setting visions and working together. We are all family! Our new zone is incredible missionaries! They are very hard workers. One set of elders in our zone found 32 new this week and they got doubled in meaning they are both new to the area. We had dinner at the Lawal's and that is always incredible! Very spiritual!
Thursday we did weekly planning and found some new investigators. We also went to the RS activity and we leaned how to clean:) Always fun! You can use lemons for everything!
Friday we had zone meeting and it went really well! We had so much participation and we set some zone visions and goals. It was incredible how everyone just came together:) Our vision is to be missionaries that raise the bar and set the standard:) AWESOME!!! We had an interesting day though because our cars for the entire mission were grounded so we had to have members drives us places and we walked all night long. It was really good for us though:) We had some service and I always love service:)
Saturday we had a "party" for Elder Mower because it was his birthday. We went over to the King's and had a huge breakfast! It was great! Then we went over and taught a powerful Doctrine of Christ lesson to a member and they opened up to us a ton! Then we got to go to a baptism for the HH Sisters and I got to see everyone from that ward. It is always so much fun. Also seeing a baptism there is fantastic! Then we had dinner with the elders and a member and that was fun. Pretty great day!
Sunday, miraculous day! S came to church, she is our most progressing investigator now. We are hopefully going to put her on date today! She is E's friend and she is so cool! Sister Holtz and her have so much in common! Then we had a good time at church. After church we went over and had a BBQ with L and her family and then went and saw J. We had dinner at the Bjarnson's and S came with us! Really great week! We also had 38 lesson and so many miracles! I know this church is true! I love serving the Lord so much and I know, all of our questions can be answered! I love you
Letter from April 13, 2015
Oh my goodness! So what a week!!!! Miracles really do happen!!! God is totally with us 100% of the time! First off, I am STAYING IN THE PROMISED LAND!!! Unfortunately I will not be with my best friend though, Sister Watts is leaving She really has been the best thing that has happened to me on my mission!:(
So honestly... I don't even know where to begin, but I guess Monday would be a good place:)
Monday was a fantastic start to the week! When we got done emailing we went grocery shopping. While we were grocery shopping, we ran into one of our favorite members and she saw that we had our grocery cart full and she said, " I am going to buy all of this for you" We were in a shock! It was so incredible! GRACE! Then we went and played football at the church. Elder Mower hung out with us because he couldn't really run because of his toe and then at the end, we all played basketball and it was so much fun! I did get really competitive though hahah... Leave it to me to get competitive. My new companion better like sports or I will rid her of that habit. Anyway, Monday night we just had a lesson with J and tried to find new gators.
Tuesday honestly, I was a little still depressed... I felt like nothing was going right and I didn't feel like I was doing work. I felt like I was slacking. I asked for a blessing on Thursday and that helped. But Tuesday night we got together with the Zone Leaders and planned Zone meeting and man, we are so good! Hahah actually God is so good but we had a great idea for Zone Meeting.
Wednesday we had Zone Meeting! It was fantastic!!! We talked about church and how important it is to get our investigators and less actives there! We also taught about the importance of prayer. We had set up 2 hours before Zone meeting and we did this HUGE obstacle course and we blind folder all of the missionaries in our zone and the only instructions we gave them was, if you don't know what to do, PRAY. We then took each of them in different areas of the church and there was obstacles in the halls as well. They had to figure out that they needed to get on their knees before we would move them to the next obstacle. It was so cool! There were some missionaries in our zone crying and they all told us thanks for the most spiritual experience. We ended in the Chapel and the talk by Elder Holland about Missionary Work and the Atonement was playing and we finished Zone meeting with a testimony meeting! It was so incredible! The spirit was so strong and it really seemed to help our missionaries. We had really good lessons the rest of the day!
Thursday we did weekly planning and then have very spiritual lessons with members! We are teaching the Doctrine of Christ and it is so fantastic! L had her baby Thursday morning and we went and saw her that night!!!! He is so stinkin cute!!!! Friday we were on exchanges and it was fan freakin tastic! I went to Highland Heights with Sister Campbell. We had a powerful lesson with their progressing investigator, and then we went and worked on the NKU campus and OMGOsh!!!! That was so much fun! I love campus work! Talking to everyone and they are all so nice and open! Then we got to go to Chipotle with the Shuley's!!!! Soooo fun! I really loved it! We talked a lot about how much I have changed and it was just fun!
Saturday was incredible! We took J and his fiancé to the temple and it was so good! We got to sit in the Celestial room for a long time and it was so relaxing.
Sunday, well you heard about it from Sister Watts. Hahah it is a long story to type ha
We don't have a teaching pool- thus it is extremely difficult to get people to church. The stakes were raised when our investigator that has been coming for 10 years (married to a member) decides not to come..... and when the Zone Leaders ask us on Friday to get 5 new investigators before Sunday... and commit 3 of them to church. sooo! Whenever Problems arise it is time for miracles to happen. We met this man T on Wednesday, outside a hotel one of our Less Actives live in. (elders area=sketchy area) He said he wanted to learn more and come to church! We didn't think much about it--- BUT we text him Saturday to see if we could come deliver him breakfast before church and we wake up to a text on Sunday......
"Alright we be ready in the morning. I got a couple of people with me."
so we figured through a string of texts that he wants to bring 3 of his friends!! Our elders told us we were allowed to go over without a male member with us.... On our way over to the address we come to find out it is an address for a Motel 6..... they said to come around back! Yes... Sister King and I were peeing our pants. We pull around back and they were all waving to us on the street! and... it all turned out! We taught them the restoration on the street..... J our member did not feel comfortable taking all four of them in his car alone (two of them had alcohol breath. so by a miracle we got another member to come and pick up two of them PLUS a new guy we met named LA. Their stories family...... wow. One guy-- 50ish lived in motels all his life. LA was homeless living under a overpass in Covington for a year as a 22 years old. Foster kid.... yeah. It was very eye opening to me. Quite the contrast to Triple Crown-- multi million dollar homes... golf course... yeah. Our area is just wee bit different.
Sunday night we had dinner at Ma and Pa's and taught them the DOC and then went to E's. She is fantastic!
I know this is the true church and I am so grateful for this amazing work!
I know this is the true church and I am so grateful for this amazing work!
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