Winter Wonderland

This week was SO COLD!! I'm not even exaggerating this time, it was literally -9°F but with the wind chill it felt like -25/30°. It was fun at the start of the week when it was all snowy and looked like a magical winter wonderland but it just got too cold the last part of the week. Church was canceled because it was too cold which was disappointing because the roads aren't even that bad and Missourins are low-key being dramatic but better safe than sorry I guess. There was a Chiefs football game on Saturday and I'm still in shock that people sat through it. Frostbite is a real thing but I guess it's worth it to watch football🤷‍♀️

Besides the freezing cold weather we found lots of new people to teach which is always exciting. Also I've met quite a few British people here so that's been fun eating Shepards pie with them and talking about England. Sister Jackson and I started talking in British accents and made a rap about baptism. We're making another rap with the zone leaders to hype up our zone for missionary work. It's gonna be so good and we already told President and Sister Sommerfeldt about it and they loved the idea lol.

That's pretty much it for this week. I just couldn't help but laugh when we went out knocking on doors because we looked like crazy people. Everyone was just so shocked to see us outside but it's worth it for Jesus🙌

Love and miss you all!!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qSs2wNuWwULfC4fY9

Reunited

Ahhh ok so transfers were on Thursday and my new companion is Sister Jackson!!! I served with her a few transfers ago when I was in Gardner and it was so fun!! I was so excited when I found out and I was freaking out. Little reunion and I'm so excited for this transfer. The new zone leader is Elder Scadden, who we both served with at the start of our missions so it's been super fun. 

Saying bye to Sister Asper was sad but she's gonna be an awesome trainer and I'm glad she got her dying wish to train in her last transfer. We had some good lessons and found lots of new people to teach which is always good. Sad news though, our friend Tim who was on date for baptism has to take a break from lessons because he's going through a divorce; so it's just not the best time right now. We still talk to him everyday though and he still loves reading the Book of Mormon so that's good. 

Sister Jackson's sister actually lives in the Liberty area so it's so crazy that she got called to this mission and is now serving near her!! Her sister hasn't been to church in years so we got permission to go to church with her! It was so fun and all the members were so nice and were so excited to see her there. It was kinda a one time thing for her to come to church but still it was so awesome. 

Little spiritual thought:

A lot of people ask where's the evidence that the Book of Mormon is true but we need to exercise faith and pray to God to receive a testimony of its truthfulness by the power of the Holy Ghost. The Book of Mormon took about 60 days to translate!! That in itself is evidence that it's truly the word of God. Hundreds of pages couldn't be translated in that short of time unless there was divine help. I just love the Book of Mormon so much because it helps me feel peace. I'm grateful I can share it with others and see how it brings them blessings. 

Love and miss you all!!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qSs2wNuWwULfC4fY9

 happy new years!!🥳

Hey guys!!

This was such a good week, even though I say that every week lol. There's definitely highs and lows to missionary work but I just wanna focus on the highs. This week we put our friend Tim on date for baptism!! I mentioned how Tim came to church last week and that was the first time we met him in person. We gave him a Book of Mormon and marked a chapter and he read it and loved it! He always says how it's speaking to him and he really feels seen when he reads it. Well... we had a lesson with him and asked him to read Mosiah 18. No joke, literally 20 minutes later he had already read it and messaged us asking to be Baptized. I'll put a screenshot below because it was so cool. Anyways Tim is so cool and he's so ready to learn about the gospel and he just loves learning about how he can become more like Christ!! He also loves meeting people at church because they're so welcoming and friendly. 

We also went to Liberty Jail this week with our friend Becky and her kids. I love bringing our friends we're teaching to Liberty Jail because it's such a great way for them to learn more about Joseph Smith and all that he did to help restore the gospel. We also had exchanges with the Kearney/YSA Sisters and it was so much fun. I got to experience the YSA ward for a bit and that was cool. 

We also had mission leadership council this week so that was fun. We found out transfer news this week and I'm staying in Kellybrook!! Sister Asper is leaving to train another Sister though but it's for the best. She's on her last transfer and she's been wanting to train for a while now. I'm excited to see who my new comp is going to be, but also sad to say bye to Sister Asper. This transfer has been so much fun. 

Also I was thinking about where I was one year ago and it's crazy how much you can change in a year. I was preparing for my mission but now I'm almost half way through and I'm just loving missionary life. My testimony of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon has grown so deeply and the more it grows the more my desire to share it with others grows. I'm excited to keep sharing the gospel in 2024!! 

Love and miss you all!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qSs2wNuWwULfC4fY9

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

This week was so much fun with all the Christmas festivities and we met some cool people (as always). I definitely miss my family but the members here have been so nice and included us in all their Christmas traditions!! We had breakfast at the carter's house this morning then we're hanging out at the Russell's the rest of the day with all the missionaries in our zone. Christmas this year has actually been so fun and I've been able to focus a lot more on Jesus Christ and recognizing the Christmas spirit. It's sad being away from my family but I also feel so grateful to be able to serve the Lord at this time. I feel so blessed and just so happy I get to share the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ!! 

We found lots of new people to teach this week and I wanted to share some cool tender mercies!! We've been having a hard time getting people to church- which doesn't make sense because church is so AWESOME. Anyways, this guy named Tim responded to a FB ad about our church service! Not gonna lie, most of the time people don't remember filling out these ads so when we call them they're so confused and not interested BUT Tim remembered and he was so down to come to church with us!! He brought his two kids as well and they were so cute. He seemed so excited to read the Book of Mormon as well and said he was literally going to read it that day. Tender mercy from God right there for placing Tim in our path so we can teach him the gospel!!

Another little miracle-->We tried visiting this guy named Derek but turns out he doesn't live there anymore and it's actually this girl named Haley. Well... Haley and her fiance apparently used to meet with missionaries but lost touch when they moved here to Liberty. BUT she was so down to learn more again and read the Book of Mormon!! Definitely not a coincidence and I truly believe God places people in our path that are ready to hear this message. Ok so many more miracles this week but I won't go into each one. 

We also had zone conference this week so that was fun. We made some ginger bread houses which was cool.

I forgot to mention this last week but this 11 year old girl from my last area sent me a bracelet and a letter and I almost start bawling my eyes out, it was so precious. I'll put a photo below of the bracelet because it's so cute! I'm making her one right now to send back. 

I love Christmas, especially this year. I'm so grateful for Jesus Christ and I'm grateful for this time to celebrate His birth. He truly is the light of the world. Jesus Christ has helped me feel so much peace because I know he understands me. I feel so grateful to be able to help others come closer to Christ and I love being a missionary (it's the best)

Love and miss you all!! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qSs2wNuWwULfC4fY9

Saturday P-day

Hey guys!!

We're helping at the giving machines on Monday so our pday was switched to today! I always say this but this week was crazy busy and I loved it. Sister Asper's mom suggested putting balloons on our fan because it makes people happy and she's so right. We did and now our apartment is looking very festive and fun. We had two exchanges this week back to back so that was super fun. The first one I went with Sister Holland to Kearney and I just love Sister Holland- she's the cutest. It was good to chat and help them in their area also. The second exchange was with Sister Zimmerman and that was so fun!!

Not gonna lie there's been lots of "drama" in our zone this week which means there's gonna be lots of changes coming soon lol. One of the sisters is going home which is really sad but I'm glad I got to serve with her for a bit! We met some cool people this week and some really good lessons. We had a lesson with our friend AK and it was AMAZING!! He had so many good questions about the Book of Mormon and he's so eager to learn more! Our friend Laura has been really excited to learn more as well. Even her kids want to read the Book of Mormon too! I love teaching this gospel to everyone and helping them come closer to christ! I feel like I've already changed a lot on my mission and I can see how the gospel changes the people we're teaching too. The gospel of Jesus Christ truly brings so much joy and peace into our lives!

Love and miss you all!!

photos album:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qSs2wNuWwULfC4fY9

Giving Machines!

Hey guys!!

This week was so so so much fun and crazy busy. On Monday we helped at this live nativity by singing carols before the show. One of the members in our ward owns this really pretty farm and they do a live nativity every year and it's really cool. She likes having the missionaries sing at the start. Last week none of the missionaries showed up so it was just Sister Asper and I with 2 Elders singing; it was so bad. I literally peed my pants from laughing because the spotlight was right on my face and we sounded so bad just singing the four of us. Oh well, it was funny. 

We had exchanges this week with the New Mark Sisters and it was so much fun!! I went with Sister Thompson and we had a blast. Met some cool people and found some new people to teach in their area! We also ate so much food this week and I was so stuffed each night. 

We helped at the giving machines and it was so fun. They're basically vending machines but for donating. One lady said we were really good salesmen so I took that as a compliment lol. It was so fun just chatting to everyone and it was for a good cause so I loved it and we got to chat with some cool people. It was so tender seeing how excited the kids got when they chose what to donate. I love how everyone gets into the Christmas spirit and gives to those in need!

Love and miss you all!

Some photos:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qSs2wNuWwULfC4fY9