Peace & CAKE

9-16: Tired

9-17: Sleepy

9-18: Melancholy

9-19: Aight

9-20: Good

9-21: Awesome!

9-22: Weak

We saw some wicked sweet miracles this week. Man. I don't know how or why all this good stuff is happening!! Carolina and her family are continuing to learn about the gospel! I can't believe we are teaching a family! I HOPE AND PRAY that she has spiritual experiences that will give this gospel a place in her heart. All we can do is pray, teach, and testify. The Lord is the master of the vineyard. He controls this mission. He knows Carolina and her family and what will help them. It's amazing that He can do it through us missionaries. If she gets baptized, that's the first person to live in Hanover and be baptized in around two decades (not counting students).

I see why we must be separate from the world. We have to be united with Him, "at one" through Christ.

NEW INVESTIGATOR, ROB!!!! I know I say this with everyone... but I really mean it. I could see him being baptized soon. He drinks a LOT of coffee, but anything is possible with the Lord on our side! He told us he liked talking with us, I asked him why, he said he felt warm. That is how he feels the spirit, and he knows it! I just want people to feel that connection with Heavenly Father, because He'll do the real work. I trust that He is doing it with Rob. He was SO into church and the talks. He told us he felt a warm feeling! That's the spirit. Crazy how the talk in sacrament meeting was exactly what we shared with him the first lesson we taught him (Alma 7:11-13, Alma's conversion in Alma 36). He's totally on the ball and ready to roll into the font!! 

We could all have OUR FIRST BAPTISMS.

MISSION BIRTHDAYS ARE THE BOMB!!!!

I woke up to a heart attacked apartment from my wonderful companions. They gave my Lindt hot chocolate (my new favorite). They know me.

We went out to lunch downtown White River Junction (wanna-be liberal artsy hipster town). 

We then went to the Balch farm and helped pick pumpkins and organize everything there! It was a beautiful fall day!! Chris and Bruce surprised me with a birthday CAKE!!! I LOVE THEM!!

After the farm we went straight to a members home and pressed apple cider! These people know how to do fall. They made their own apple press by taking a garbage disposal, pitting the apples into that, having them come out into a bucket, then putting them into the press with the juice flowing into the gallon containers. Freshest apple cider I have ever had in my life, most delicious drink ever! It was so cool! 

We went over to the Jarrett's (they had Carolina and family over for dinner who are now our investigators) for the rest of the night and they celebrated my birthday!

HOW SWEET ARE THEY!?!?! 

People have the largest hearts! I am SO GRATEFUL!!!!

{Lunch with Sister Blodgett and Sue Clark in Hanover!}

DOCTOR RESULTS

My mission president wanted me to email you all the results from the appointment.

We looked at my MRI together. My joint (the thumb knuckle) is partially out of line because I ruptured the ligament around it. I need surgery to reattach the ligaments to my bone. I have a scheduled date of October 1 for surgery. I will be in a cast for 4-6 weeks and cannot use my right hand. There will be therapy afterwards for a few months. Sister Stoker gave me the option of going home but I am staying here! I cannot go home!! 

If I do not get surgery I risk permanent damage to my joint and will have arthritis early on. The surgery reduces the chances of arthritis by a lot! Also, if I don't get surgery I will probably need to have a replacement joint later in my life. So I chose to go forward with the surgery, because it will not heal on its own. It's like an ACL tear, but in my thumb!!

Any advice or comments?

This is my MRI. The top bone should be straight up and down, like my other thumb, but its not. The ligaments aren't attached so there's nothing to hold it straight.

Triple Threat

9-9: Alright

9-10: Great

9-11: Good

9-12: Happy

9-13: Great... and tired

9-14: Exhausted

9-15: Sleepy

SHE'S HERE!!! MY THIRD COMPANION!! THE TRIO INSPIRED BY GOD!!! Good news is, she's awesome, super easy to live with and be around, is humble, had wonderful ideas, and is ready to WORK WORK WORK!

Her name is Sister Sowards, from Provo! She loves the area, but how can you not?! It's beautiful! She says that Sister Fuller and I never forget that missionary work should be fun. Which I am a firm believer in. 

Missionary work IS fun, even though it's challenging. 

I feel calm and at peace.

Or maybe just REALLY TIRED... I am gaining muscles from all this heavy lifting we have to do.

Earlier today we moved a lady and packed her ENTIRE HUGE MOVING TRUCK in an hour and 20 minutes. 

Fall is in the air. We are picking tons of pumpkins and eating lots of soup and homemade cider. That stuff is so good.

WE HAD CANNED BROWN BREAD AT A DINNER THIS WEEK. HAVE ANY OF YOU EVER HEARD OF CANNED BREAD!?!?!?! DON'T EAT IT!!! You open it with a can opener, shake it onto a plate, and microwave it. Sister Fuller was up in the early hours of the morning SICK because of it. All bad.

We had three lessons as a trio this week. It requires a lot of tongue holding and taking turns, which is good for me! Everyone already loves Sister Sowards, which makes me SO happy.

Wednesday night we had the craziest thunder storm I've ever seen in my life. We were driving home from the church and there was thunder and lightening SURROUNDING US. Trees were fallen all over the interstate and all the power went out. We were able to use candles in our apartment because of it! It was insane! The sky was having a seizure! I wasn't sure if the second coming was happening or what, it just freaked me out. Everything was so dark.

Saturday the missionaries in the other ward had a BAPTISM!! We got John to go to it. As we were walking to the font, one lady turned around to John and says pointing at him "YOU'RE NEXT!" John hasn't talked to us since. 

NOT GOOD!! 

Saturday we had the chance to go to a BARN RAISING!!!!!!!! I HELPED BUILD A BARN!!! It was like a ward party. 

Miracle:

The zone leaders called a wrong number. It was this man who had a daughter who was interested in the church. He gave the Elders her contact information. The Elders called us and gave us her info. Turns out it was Carolina! Our new investigators (SUCH A MIRACLE) from last week!! They are ready to accept the gospel! It would be INSANE if they were to be baptized, and it's definitely not out of the question! It could totally happen! The Lord is helping us so much. We are putting everything on the table and are doing our best to be EXACTLY OBEDIENT and it is showing! Little miracles every day help me to know that things are OK and that good things are coming.

We are encouraged to go to institute (we are so lucky we have it, lucky for us we are at Dartmouth!) and got to go! It was wicked nice to be taught instead of teach for a chance. We got to know the students in our ward a LOT better, and most of them have friends who want to know more about the gospel. We are studying the four gospels. During our companionship studies we always find questions that we don't know the answers to, there are so many corners of our doctrines that we don't know. Many of our questions were answered in institute, and my testimony was strengthened. 

I love asking questions. Sometimes I feel like people are ashamed that they don't know everything about the church, and are even scared to tackle the questions they don't have answers to. They shouldn't be ashamed, because having questions is a good thing! We don't know all there is to know, God will teach us line upon line all His doctrine! I love asking Him questions and seeing Him strengthen my faith as I try to find answers. helping investigators find answers to their questions helps me to know that I can do the same. Everything I teach people I should also do myself!  

Something that is finally making sense to me is when Christ repeatedly says "The Father in me and me in the Father and we are one" (something along those lines). It always confused me. People would say, "they say that because they are one in purpose." Which I didn't doubt, I just didn't understand. 3 Nephi 19:23 was the answer to my question. Christ is teaching the Nephites about the Holy Ghost as He is praying to The Father. I love this chapter so much! I love that they KNEEL ALWAYS! It's remarkable! Christ is the advocate of Heavenly Father. He has the authority to act in His name. When we receive the Holy Ghost we do the same for Christ, because His spirit is with us. Christ reflects everything Heavenly Father is. When we take upon ourselves the name of Christ, we are covenanting to reflect Christ, and have the ability to do so through His spirit! Hopefully this all makes sense... It made sense to me!

{BARN RAISING!!}

{IT'S REALLY GREEN HERE!!! Look at all the cows.}

Rising to the Challenge

9-2: Happy

9-3: Down

9-4: Irritated

9-5: So good, so blessed

9-6: Good

9-7: Anxious

9-8: Excited

Transfer news: I am being put in a trio. Sister Fuller and I are staying together for a third transfer and are adding another sister to our companionship.

God's in a trio with Jesus and the Holy Ghost, so that means trios are good, right?

I find myself CONSTANTLY asking the same question Enos asked the Lord. "Lord, HOW IS IT DONE?" (Enos 1:7). If he does it perfectly, He will guide me. 

People remember one thing: how you made them FEEL.

My purpose in this new companionship is to help this sister see herself differently than before, to have her walk away feeling more loved and cherished than ever before. I can do that with The Lord's help. I pray for charity, I don't know how else I'm supposed to get it. If it's a Godly gift, then God's gotta give it to me! I am earning His trust. 

Obedience. Patience. Diligence. FAITH.

I have faith that The Lord CALLS WHO HE QUALIFIES. 

I have faith that He directs this work. That He has sent me here to find those no one else could. 

I have a firm belief in this gospel.

I know that God is merciful and loving.

I know that as we give ALL WE HAVE to this cause, the Lord will make up for our weaknesses.

Grace is real.

Justice requires repentance.

Repentance requires humility.

Humility is where I am headed. I am teachable. I can do hard things. The Lord can refine me.

he puts me through the fire to create a useful tool.

I CAN DO HARD THINGS WHEN I HAVE THE LORD BEHIND ME!!! He wouldn't leave me to do His work.

Deep thoughts for the day:

Today I read in 3 Nephi 11:35. Revelation hit hard. After reading Ezekiel's account of seeing God in chapter 1, the first vision, and my Book of Mormon study in 3 Nephi 11, I came to the conclusion that God VISITS US BY THE HOLY GHOST. I spent my studies learning of the Nature of God, because when we learn of His nature, we are learning of ourselves and really our potential. What drives our spirits? What makes a heart beat? How does it all work? The Creator created the driving forces of our bodies, is the driving force our spirits? The body without the spirit is dead, yet the spirit without the body is eternal and living.

The mission vision is to have ever member have a significant missionary experience in the next 11 months. That is what the mission president is asking of us as missionaries. IT IS GOING GREAT!!! 

Major miracle #1: Friday we had a lunch with a man named Peter in the senior center. He brought a lady named Mary. She ended up coming to church with one of the other older sisters and is already being CRAZY FELLOWSHIPPED!!!! Baptism is where we are headed people!!!

 MAJOR miracle #2: We had dinner on Sunday with the Jarrett family. They invited a FAMILY over for dinner who are totally ready for the gospel. They are now taking lessons from us. 

When you testify and bring the Holy Ghost in the room, it touches their hearts in a way nothing else can. It's all we can do to control an appointment, just bring the spirit in!! "Preach the gospel by the spirit."

John loves football. His games always play during church, so he never comes. We were doing woodies roundup Saturday night (the last push to get people to come to church) and he told us he was going to Mass (church, not the state) in the morning then watching football and wasn't going to come to church. I made a little deal with him that we'd go to Mass with him if he would come to church with us.

SOOO we went to Mass with John! And he came to church with us!!

{There's huge chapels all over New England, in ever little city. Religion was huge, now they're just empty because no one is religious anymore. The chapels are absolutely beautiful!!}

{Lobster?}

{I JUST WANT TO RIDE A HORSE. This is lady, the horse at the Fogg's.}

{Got milk?}

{FUZZY CATERPILLARS.}

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Moving On

8-26: Ready to sleep

8-27: So good

8-28: Exhausted

8-29: Annoyed

8-30: Head ACHIE

8-31: Sick

9-1: Content

 

Highlight of this week was serving at the Haven (a local food pantry and shelter). We aren't allowed to share the gospel there, but that doesn't stop us from testifying! We've had them call us a LOT this last week to work the extra hours. We felt good about doing it, so we did it! When I leave this area I'm going to BAWL my eyes out because I don't want to leave the people we serve with!! I love the other volunteers! One of the new ones we met knew that we were missionaries. She called us sisters right off the bat, which is weird. No one knows who we are. Her step sons served missions. She's getting super into family history. We invivted her to the Family History class on Wednesdays and she said she'd come! WHOOHOOOO!!!

 

Then one of the ladies who uses the food shelf and volunteers at the Haven cried when we talked to her. She was making soup and we got talking about God, and how HE LOVES EACH OF US and is our LITERAL HEAVENLY FATHER!!! The spirit touched her and she cried. We are praying for the chance to see her somewhere when we can INVITE her to take lessons and such, since we can't at the Haven. Potential right there!

 

It feels so good to feel the spirit speak to others THROUGH YOU!!

 

The past two weeks we've been able to get all of our food for free from serving at the farmers market, the farm, and the Haven. People love us and hook us up!!!

 

Us and the elders had a crazy successful less active week. The owners of the farm, the Balch's, have really started opening up to us as we serve them from all different angles. We help at the market and the elders help at the farm, then one night we both help with the farm! Anyways, we all had a Come-to-Jesus-Feel-Your-Soul lesson on the Sabbath Day. Sister Balch PINKY PROMISED my left pinky that she'd come to church. The spirit was strong and we commit her! Guess what.... SHE CAME TO CHURCH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 10 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was awesome, and now she's going to see how much the Lord blesses us when we go to church and keep the Sabbath Day holy! So cool.

 

I am diving deep into the study of THE ATONEMENT! Simple things I've learned: it's not going to prevent you from hurt and trial, rather it is a source of strength that we can use to overcome everything! It's the underground fresh water lake in a desert! It's REAL. All our efforts, with the Lord's all, can make us who He wants us to become. I love the analogy of picking the weeds out before we plant the flowers. You can't just mow weeds. Our part of the Atonement is repentance. It all clicked into place this week. The whole concept of justice, mercy, and grace, CLICKED!

We must remember it always, we covenant to remember it always. I find that as I try to do that, my GRATITUDE grows so much larger, and my love for everyone increases.

 

Ok.

Megan Hood moved out of our ward yesterday. It's a HUGE deal! She's been a blessing in my life and one of those people you'll never forget. It's totally bittersweet because now she actually has a place to call home for the first time in 8 months! But that also means we can't talk to her anymore because she isn't in our area. Dumb. I'm so proud of her!!

 

I've learned that The Lord only gives you enough energy to complete his tasks, nothing more. I want to crawl in my bed and die every night I'm so exhausted, yet during the day I do pretty good!!

 

Funny moments:

Sister Fuller got pulled over for going 56 in a 35 and totally got away with it, while we had the district leader in the backseat!!