1st week as a "Greeny"

 

                                                     Week 7

So much has happened since last week. I am now officially a greenie! That is so crazy. I am super excited to be out in South Carolina and I'm ready to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Also, everyone send me a friend request on Facebook so I don't get put in Facebook jail. It will make it easier to get my Facebook going. 

It took my mom and I a little while but we were able to get everything packed. We lucked out, the suitcases didn't go over 50 pounds. Right as my dad and I were walking back we saw Hermana Stewart and her family. That made me really happy because I didn't want to go to our gate alone. We said our goodbyes and headed off. The gate had a lot of missionaries waiting for the flight to Atlanta, Georgia. Turns out most of them were going to Kentucky. There were five missionaries on our row and all of us were going to South Carolina. A little into the flight we hit some pretty bumpy turbulence. It was really funny. I was playing sudoku and the turbulence wouldn't let me touch the screen

When we reached Atlanta, we had a four hour layover. It actually was pretty fun. We got 5 Guys for lunch and right as we finished some more missionaries came. Turns out they were going to South Carolina too! We talked to them and it made the time pass by really fast. We landed in South Carolina around 7pm and went to find our luggage. The APs, and President and Sister Monson came to pick us up. They drove us to a church where all the other missionaries were waiting. My homies Elder Bates, Decker, and Mullenaux were there too! HMTC together again! For dinner we had pulled pork sandwiches, fruit and a cupcake. It was soo good. We stayed the night in a hotel, and went back to a church the next morning to receive instruction and our trainers. 

The training was great and was given by the two senior missionary couples. They are great! I am excited to get to know them better. Then the kind of scary thing happened, we went into the chapel where all of the trainers were waiting. I saw Sister Bowen! I absolutely love her! (she was a friend of mine back home) Hermana Stewart is her new companion!(so excited for them) I got my trainer! Her name is Sister Robinson. She is from St. George and has been out for almost 11 months. She is amazing and I already love her! She is our STL(sister training leader for our zone) and our district leader. Our area is Georgetown, South Carolina. It is a great area, and we have a lot of work to do. Funny thing is it's an English area, so I'll be speaking English for the next little while. Also, we have a car! It is really nice having one because our area is pretty big. We live in a two story apartment with just the two of us. It is a pretty nice apartment, but it is cold. Sister Robinson likes the AC on so I am a popsicle. Thank goodness we both have blankets. 

They people in the south are so kind and they will tell you what's what. You talk to people and they tell you their whole life story. They don't care whether or not you want to hear it. I'm going to have to get used to that. But sometimes it works to your advantage and you find out the person's needs and wants faster. A cool thing is that the Bible is so loved down here. People talk about Jesus all the time. Sister Robinson and I live by so many churches. There are 4-5 on our street. 

I had my first dinner appointment with the Bernard family on Saturday. We went over to their house and had chili dogs. It was super fun. They are such a great family. Their yard is beautiful, (South Carolina has a ton of trees. There are everywhere. I am trying to figure out roads and directions, but it all looks the same. I love having all these trees anyway.) and they pretty much live by a forest. 

Sister Robinson and I helped with a primary activity.  Our branch isn't very big so only three girls showed up. Turns out they only have girls in the primary (around 6, but not sure). We set up a little obstacle thing and the girls would go through it blind folded. Someone was the Holy Ghost saying the right things quietly while everyone else was saying random things. It was really fun to watch and be a part of.

 We are teaching some great people right now:

Janet/Joel: (Mom and son) They are on date for baptism on November 28th. We have to teach them separately because they both like to talk so much Janet is so strong and full of faith. We taught her a lesson last night over the phone and she just soaked it up. We are having her start reading the Book of Mormon. Joel has a lot of questions and is learning how to pray. Sister Robinson and I are trying to get them to church or have a spiritual experience. 

 Shirley:

She was in some other sister's area book, but she didn't live in their area. She actually lives in our area about 40 minutes away. We went and dropped off a Book of Mormon and some other papers to her. She is so strong and wants as much information about Jesus Christ as possible. She has gone through so many hard things in her life, but her faith in Christ is still strong.  

Willie:

Sister Robinson found him on Facebook. Her previous companion and her taught him a little over some phone calls. We were able to do a facetime call with him. We taught him about the restoration and he said that what we were saying made sense. He is starting to read the Book of Mormon. We are so excited for our next call with him. 

                                                 Hope you all have a great week!

                                                                                 airport

Her MTC district.  She finally got to meet the Elders in person

her friend from Hooper

Jaime and her comp Sister Robinson

Someone she knew at BYU-Idaho

                                                     apartment

She loves the Dollar Tree

her small church

a Primary activity

stray cats that live outside the church

Someone made them spaghetti.  She hates spaghetti and wouldn't eat it at home.  She said it was good.

We are not alone

I trust in my Savior to help me in all things.  He has promised to carry my yoke for me.  I love Him so much and know I am never alone and that He will be there to help me.  Trials are given to help refine us and "polish us".  Through my life I have personally witnessed Him catch me and give me wings to fly.  I know He will do the same for you.

Week 6

                                            

It is crazy to think that the MTC is now over for me. These past six weeks have gone by so quickly. I have learned so much in these past weeks. It is bittersweet that it's over. This door has closed in my life and has now opened the door of the mission field in my life. I am so excited to see the things that I will learn and experiences that I will have on my mission. I know that if I am exactly obedient the Lord will bless me. I invite you all to be exactly obedient to God and I promise you that he will bless you.

The MTC has been such a great experience. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us. Doing the HMTC was supposed to happen, and I know that I was supposed to be with my district. I don’t believe in coincidences. It isn’t a coincidence that we meet the people we do in our lives. They are put there for a reason. My district was so amazing. I have become close to everyone in my district. I never thought that I would become super close to the people in my district. It is amazing to see the connections that we have formed over the computer. Some of us don’t have a lot in common, but we are still able to bond over things. I am going to miss seeing them everyday. They have become a special part of my life. They are my friends. I hope that in the future that we will see each other again. If it is what Heavenly Father wants he will make it happen.

(My mom said that I should share the merry-go-round incident from last Saturday. It was at my district activity.) We all went to go play on the playground. There was a merry-go-round and another sister and I decided to get on it. Everyone else was being a chicken because they said that they would get dizzy. I was sitting underneath the bars with my legs sticking out. I was holding onto the two bars next to my legs. The merry-go-round wasn’t going very fast, but I could feel myself slipping off a little. I was about to get off when one of the elders grabbed the merry-go-round and spun it superfast. The little grip that my bottom had on it disappeared within seconds. My body was airborne. I was still holding on, but only because the bars were in my armpits and my arms were around the bars. I was facing the sky getting flung around the merry-go-round. It was terrifying. I kept asking for help but no one came to my rescue. I had to save myself. I had to push my feet down to the ground. I was able to get them down and stop myself. After, I let go and layed on the ground and died. I thanked Heavenly Father for helping me be safe and okay. I laughed it off and went back to having fun with my district.

I spoke on Sunday about the MTC and other experiences that I had. I mentioned this story and related it to life. We may feel alone in our lives with no one coming to our rescue, but we are not alone. Christ felt everything that we have felt. He knows what you are going through. He was alone in his life so we don’t have to be alone in our lives. I have a quote that has been downstairs in my MTC room it says, "When life becomes more than you can stand, kneel." Heavenly Father is always just a prayer away. When you are in need of comfort and strength, you can go to Him.

I have seen the power of the gift of tongues throughout the MTC. I could count to 3 and say amen in Spanish before the MTC. Now I can do so much more. I know that Heavenly Father helped me during my TRCs to know what to say. It is hard trying to speak only in Spanish because I can't say everything that I want to say. There is a quote from President Monson in Preach My Gospel that has really stood out to me, it says, "There is one language...that is common to each missionary--the language of the Spirit. It is not learned from textbooks written by men of letters, nor is it acquired through reading and memorization. The language of the Spirit comes to him who seeks with all his heart to know God and keep His divine commandments. Proficiency in this language permits one to breach barriers, overcome obstacles, and touch the human heart." I know that learning Spanish won't be easy but I will be able to do it with God's help. Even if my grammar is incorrect and I mess up the words, the Spirit can convey what I’m trying to say.

The next email I send out will be coming from South Carolina. I am so excited to see what part of my mission I will be going to. I hope that the leaves there haven’t turned yet, so I can see all the pretty colors of fall again. I’m looking forward to experiencing warm weather for a couple more weeks.

¡Espero que todas tengan una semana fantástica!

Let the packing begin.  We actually had to vacuum pack things so they would fit.  She took soooo much stuff.

She ended up with two suit cases weighing 50 lbs each.  We had to keep weighing them and taking stuff out so we didn't exceed the weight limit.

Our "lasts" with Hermana Lott

last day doing the home MTC

She had mixed emotions being done.  We took her for late night treats at Arctic Circle after her last class to cheer her up.  We had to eat in the car because their lobby is closed still.

 

She is going to miss her cats and them her, as she is the only one who gives them attention.  Ha ha. 

Saying good bye to Hermana Lott

My family came over for a last family get together.  We had fun being silly and dressing up in Halloween costumes.

last family game night

 

We had our last family meal together the night before she left.

October 27, 2020

The Big Day!!!!!

October 28, 2020

Her room is finally clean!!!

final departure

(I tried to fight back the tears)

(Her carry on bags were so heavy.  She tells me they gave her bruises.)

She meet up with her companion Hermana Stewart.  I was so thankful they were flying together.

My heart broke as I watched her walk away.  I wanted to throw up.  I will miss her so much.  I know she is going where she is needed.  I am thankful for the sacrifices she is making.  I shed tears the first day, but am doing great now.  I know she is in good hands and I look forward to our reunion in 16 months.

She made it to South Carolina!!!!  

Sister Lott and her new companion.  Her first area is a town called George Town.  She will attend a small branch, English speaking.

We got to talk to her on Halloween.  Technology is wonderful.  It was great to see her smiling face.  She is so happy and is doing great!!!!

Happy Halloween 

Ethan kept switching costumes.