Fairies and Car Crash🧚‍♀️🚗✨️

This week was so full of miracles and crazy moments!! Started the week off with a car crash last Pday😃 A lady rear ended us and it basically was a hit and run so that was annoying, but we're all ok!

Faith drops: sometimes when we stop teaching someone it's really sad and so hard but you have to trust that the Lord is preparing more people!! This was so evident this week. On Friday we had exchanges and found 8 people that day!! That morning during my personal study I was reminded at how the Lord softens the hearts of the people. The spirit truly is the one who converts people not us. That day we prayed specifically for the Lord to soften the hearts of the people we came in contact with and WOW... I truly believe they were all placed in our path. 

Talking to everyone is so important in missionary work!! On Saturday we drove past this girl sitting in her backyard so I told Sister Winn to turn the car around so we can talk to her. When I rolled down my window and asked to share a verse she got right up and at first I totally thought she was going to be mad at us for yelling at her in her backyard lol. BUT she actually came straight over and said this was meant to be and she really needed comfort in that moment. She opened up to us about some trials she's going through and we shared some verses that have brought us comfort. I think it's no coincidence that 5 minutes earlier we had made a wrong turn and ended up on her street!! God is SO aware of each of His children. I'm grateful that I get to experience that everyday and see how much He truly does care for each of us. I've seen it in my life and in the lives of those around me! We just need to look around and we'll notice the Lord's fingerprints EVERYWHERE!

HIGHLIGHTS:

-had our ward Halloween party and Sister Winn and I were matching fairies with the cutest little girl ever. Every time she sees us she screams "MISSIONARIESSSS" it's the cutest thing

-our 5 year old friend Rose also gave us "Sister badges" 🥹 

-played glow in the dark volleyball🏐🌟

-saw Sister Beach 2x this week🥰

-got the biggest slice of pizza ever🍕 

-Sister Kington and Anderson gave us mini Jesus's 😇

Anyways love and miss you all💗

Ate squirrel this week🐿😭

When a family of 10 offers you their own cooked tree squirrel that their 11 year old son shot with a BBgun you HAVE to say Yes!! The dad kept saying "doesn't it taste like chicken??" While Sister Winn and I just smiled and nodded as we ate literal squirrel. I can confirm that squirrel is not my favorite🙃

We're officially Costa Vida regulars now🌊🌯We went 3 times this week and each time the workers are like "wow y'all come in a lot" but I mean it's worth it and the members know we love it!

Highlight of this week was definitely going to the temple🥰 The temple is truly a sanctuary and I really felt it this week! The rest of the week was good but hard. But through the hard times I can see the Lord's hand everyday. Tender mercy - I got to see my friend Kaitlin at Cracker Barrel after the temple!! I taught Kaitlin months ago and she got baptized after I left the area so I haven't been able to see her since so it was so good catching up! 

Also got to watch general conference this weekend and WOW it was so good. I loved Elder Kearon's talk about "the church of joy"- this is SO TRUE. I'm forever grateful for the restoration of Jesus Christ's church and of priesthood keys which allow us to make covenants with God!! Those covenants truly help us endure to the end and find strength and hope in this journey of life! 

Love and miss you all!!

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

"Your name sounds like Shrek"🧌💚

Hey!! this week was so good and so much happened 

First off, we rolled down our window and started talking about family history with this girl named Carla and she invited us to chat with her on her porch. We felt special because she said she normally doesn't allow people to sit on her porch with her. We started talking about church and she said she believes Jesus was a prophet and nothing more than just another man. We shared with her how the Book of Mormon testifies that Jesus IS the Christ and Savior of the world. we shared part of the intro and she thought it was powerful and wanted to learn more! I'm grateful for the Book of Mormon and how it has helped me come to know that my Savior is real. I've come to learn more of Him and grow closer to Him. 

Other highlights from this week:

-Carla also told me my name sounded like Shrek🥹 i feel honored

-house tour with Belinda🏡 we knocked on her door and started talking about family history then she invited us in and showed us all her new house renovations👍

-Arionna is on date for baptism🥳🥳 Arionna still amazes me. Each time we end a lesson she messages us 30 minutes later with a whole paragraph of her summary of the chapter we gave her to read🤩 she has such a sincere desire to grow closer to God and I'm so happy she's been able to come to learn more about important truths in the Book of Mormon and recognize that they're from God!!

-found this guy Cameron on FB and he said my brother might've taught him in Alaska years ago on his mission lol kinda cool he came to volleyball on Friday and loved it

-dinner with the Goodmans and they told us all their best conspiracy theories🥸 

-found these guys Zay and Antwane (they came to volleyball like a month ago). At first Zay was like "ya know growing up I was told always walk away from those mormon missionaries" but now he's interested in learning more so the spirit was really working on him🙏

-found a guy named Cash'Money🤑 he's a funny one

-Sister Winn called this guy Matthew on facebook and he came to church on Sunday🥳 he even signed up to help clean up after the Halloween chilli cook off party🤭

-got a picture with Rose and her build a bear named "rainbow sparkles"🌈 ✨️

Also I love this quote from President Nelson about the Book of Mormon:

"When I think of the Book of Mormon, I think of the word power. The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls."

This is so true!! Sometimes I'm tired or have a down moment on the mission but then I remember my why and why I'm here. And it's because I love Jesus and all that he's done for me. I've come to learn more about Him and His gospel through reading the Book of Mormon. The peace I feel when I read always comforts and strengthens me to keep going. It fuels me to want to share this message with EVERY SINGLE LIVING SOUL- and as we go out and share it everyday I feel closer to my Savior.

Love and miss you all!!

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

Balloon Dress🎈 

Highlights from this week:

-firstwatch breakfast with the Harrisonville Sisters🍨

-Zone Conference: got to see some of my favorite people🥰

-Rebekah and her mom made this cool balloon dress 🎈(I'll put a pic below)

-blitz and lunch @Panera with Sister Carter🫶 we love her

-Jeanne's dog Vivi is actually insane but so funny

-met some cool people who want to learn more😎

-the Newey's gave us the best dinner of my life🥹 it wasn't anything special but those tator tots were a tender mercy to Sister Winn and I

-had some really good lessons with our friends🙌

-ran into some members from my old area in Costa Vida😊

-matching night gowns with Sister Winn

-also I just love Sister Winn and I wish I could write everything down she does that makes me laugh but that would be a long list lol

A couple days ago we ran up to this guy Forrest who was working on his car and chatted with him about the gospel. He said Sister missionaries tried to give him a Book of Mormon exactly a year ago and he declined because he knew he wouldn't read it. He still wasn't interested BUT he took a copy and let us share a message. Even though it's not his time now it was cool to be able to give him a copy! Someday Forrest will read that book and gain a testimony or maybe one of his friends will find it. Either way it was cool to see how those previous sisters planted that seed and a year later Forrest accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon. It goes to show how God has a plan for each of us. And even though we aren't teaching Forrest now- I felt so much joy in that moment sharing my testimony of this gospel with him! No matter how others exercise their agency we can do our part by being instruments in this work and help everyone receive the gospel! we just need to open our mouths and share what's in our hearts!!

Love and miss you all!!

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

Transfer News🙌

HEY!!

We got transfer news on Saturday and sister winn and I are staying together for another transfer🥳🥳 we were so excited and next transfer is gonna be SO GOOD!

Highlights from this week:

-Hailey brought another friend to church so that was cool

-Moved into a member's basement apartment and she is just the cutest. We love Sister DeSantis already🫶 She's been leaving us some cute notes and snacks 🥰

-Made homemade pizza and set off the fire alarm

-Met this girl called K-love who told us some crazy stories about her seeing Jesus😃 she also REALLY wants to come to church but said the Book of Mormon was "trash"?? but then I asked if she prayed about it and she said no so that speaks for itself

-Bro. Davis took us to the nicest dinner everrr and told us his whole life story lol

He said I could go skiing with him when I get home in Dec though⛷️⛷️ so my new ski buddy is a 70 year old man

-David gave us spoon rings and got a pic with his Harley🏍

-Tracie wasn't interested at all but then we mentioned family history and she goes "ooh now that's something I'd be interested in" so cool family history miracle!

But seriously I love this work and the miracles we see everyday!! It's so amazing to see how God places people in our path at the exact right time and place! There's no such thing as a coincidence! Sister Winn showed me a video of Elder Holland talking about how Jesus Christ understands us. I can't fully comprehend exactly how he felt my pains or what that looks like but I know he did and he understands me perfectly. He understands each of us and I've been able to see that so much on my mission. I love my Savior and his sacrifice for me- and I'm grateful to be his servant 💗 I'm grateful I can share this message with others to help them find peace in Christ too!!

Love and miss you all!!

Met Andy Reid🏈

Hey!! 

Church this week was so amazing and much needed. 4 hours of church is long but so spiritually up lifting. The talks and discussions these week especially spoke to me and reminded how much God truly knows each of us individually!

 Highlights from this week:

-our 9 year old friend James is on date for baptism🌊

-met Andy Reid😎 go chiefs✌️

-animals held this week: rat, frog, ferret, pug, mouse 

-watched a baby pug and yorkie fight (and they low key attacked us)

-David made us spoon rings🥹 he was so excited because they're British spoons lol

-got Lamars donuts but didn't meet Lamar😔

-Tyler came to church again so yay!

-also went to the zoo🐻‍❄

Ok also story about how we met Andy Reid. He was baptizing his daughters boyfriend and his grandson. So we just had to bring our friends to come see it of course. The spirit was so strong during the baptism though and I can confirm that brother Reid is a crier🥲 He was so nice and in conclusion we are basically besties with Taylor Swift now but not really but we have a connection lol

Love and miss you all!!

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

"keep slayin girls"🙏

Title this week comes from this random guy named Mike we met the other day. We rolled down our window and had a 10 minute convo about Jesus with Mike who proceeded to give us a very interesting sermon and hyped us up for preaching the word. He wasn't interested but told us to "keep slaying" and teach God's word so thanks Mike✌️

This week was so much fun and went by SO fast! Here's some highlights:

- Texas Roadhouse with Sister Carter and Stine on Friday and the rolls did not disappoint😊 (lowkey was feeling so sick from eating too many rolls though) 

-eating freeze dried nerd clusters @ the Tanners

-Sister Winn's friend from college was driving thru Kansas City so we got to have lunch with her!

- having awesome lessons with Jason at McDonald's 🍔

-first watch for breakfast 

-pulled up to a guy who had his car window down and found him😎

-Hailey brought her boyfriend to church so now we're teaching him too

-tortilla slap challenge for district council 

-went to the temple today😇

On Saturday we rolled down our window to invite this guy to church and he said "no english" but Sister Winn totally thought he was faking it so she just kept saying  "yes you do" but he totally didn't. He was so confused and kept pointing to his wedding ring and wife and kids walking out the door. Sister Winn just hopped out and tried to use Google translate and explain but all we could say was "Jesucristo" and "El libro de mormon" so that was funny🤣 

One thing I always come back to on my mission is how important the converting power of the Holy Ghost is!! When people try to bash us all we can do is testify and share how we've come to know these things are true! It's amazing how the Spirit testifies of truth and is the only way we can gain a testimony and I'm grateful for that💗

Anyways love and miss you all!!

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