tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24989196830299210012024-02-19T22:03:54.412-08:00Come FOLLOW me as I FOLLOW Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-57046380018204923992014-07-13T21:44:00.000-07:002014-07-14T07:27:55.023-07:00Don't be stupid<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">From the editor: Below was an email Nat sent to me that wasn't intended for the blog, but I loved it so I told her I was going to add it</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;"> :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm not going to be able to write up a good email, which is still okay because you still haven't updated my blog. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But, I want to tell you about President Mullen...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So he met us by zone. Everyone was there early looking their best and it's custom that we stand when the mission President walks into the room. First the AP's come zooming in and they were being all sorts of funny while we waited for President Mullen and as soon as he walked in, we stood and he says "<i>Oh don't do that! Don't stand for me!"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And then Sister Mullen says "<i>Seriously, we aren't general authorities, we just want to serve right along with you</i>". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course, we remained standing, but it was so precious. They are <b>SO</b> sweet and so emotional. At least 10 times they said they don't want us to stand for them ever again. Which in all honesty I have mixed feelings about because the spirit is so strong when we do. Every time we stand when a mission president or general authority or the prophet walk in it's undeniable that they are men called of God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">They then talked to us and told us about them and their vision for the mission. President Mullen's theme was "<i>Don't be stupid</i>". He said it like a hundred times and would always follow saying "<i>Now you won't ever hear me say that again. I'm going to be very positive with you and say things like 'Be wise' but know that I'm really saying 'Don't be stupid". </i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love him, b</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">ut the coolest part of the whole thing was when Sister Mullen was talking to us about the training they </span>received<span style="font-family: inherit;"> from the First Presidency and the Quorum of the 12 Apostles (which would have been the coolest meeting <b>EVER</b> ) and she said that Elder Christopherson (I think) stood and said with great emotion "<i>We love the missionaries. They are our companions is this great work. I wish that you could understand how precious each one of them is in the sight of the Lord</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She of course was crying as she said it, and it was hard for the rest of us not to cry. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We need that. We take great comfort in that. Knowing that every day the brethren are praying for us specifically and that every week in the temple in a special room none of us are allowed in, there is a prayer lead by the Prophet, circled by Christ's disciples, praying specifically for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mom one day I hope you get to serve a mission. It seriously is the greatest. It's the holiest and most sacred calling there is. Elder Holland said so. I love being a missionary. I love serving the Lord. I love you.</span></div>
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(email sent July 7, 2014)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_-RBUSh2skc8HLr5pY_GutRAdKHz453HcOeB13v-1EjGwcWCzktfOsLdRTWXfjk3KKwBKXnDBOzDGhS3FxoTaXqDBn4gu-JKwx87Y0S2zGGc8ehoA0sSZtJt9dS25HYJJVAjPWUAtQw/s1600/DSC00433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_-RBUSh2skc8HLr5pY_GutRAdKHz453HcOeB13v-1EjGwcWCzktfOsLdRTWXfjk3KKwBKXnDBOzDGhS3FxoTaXqDBn4gu-JKwx87Y0S2zGGc8ehoA0sSZtJt9dS25HYJJVAjPWUAtQw/s1600/DSC00433.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Sister Olsen thinks she's really funny and will take photos of me with our phone when I'm not looking and set them as our background. <br />Then last night she started taking photos of me on her camera... </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeTQKqvyrkPuVqBZPFYBJeBGJ-TzRdxFTZWkI3P96hzQ6sZKKd3_2n0E77Rp4fAaSW1CjIIU6MbxS6RvGLitMdGoqNWTlNodWqfhbPK_IwYf2bPor6aW-AdfrCXizjYxkZQ0P-3gtyO4/s1600/DSC00444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeTQKqvyrkPuVqBZPFYBJeBGJ-TzRdxFTZWkI3P96hzQ6sZKKd3_2n0E77Rp4fAaSW1CjIIU6MbxS6RvGLitMdGoqNWTlNodWqfhbPK_IwYf2bPor6aW-AdfrCXizjYxkZQ0P-3gtyO4/s1600/DSC00444.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">So I decided to help her out :)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxVlLm9JqvnVfM2heClL35FWAE3PpNZdfU7YLA-V9pM6Twh2nQsu6hnDE86mBPGoJCg7N_g6T0r_zpyXUOZHl2SETyGohyphenhyphenAuQjTgOo3dqDksdh2f1EN6sFL7-0t5a5noubj4LEmjT_Qo/s1600/DSC00481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxVlLm9JqvnVfM2heClL35FWAE3PpNZdfU7YLA-V9pM6Twh2nQsu6hnDE86mBPGoJCg7N_g6T0r_zpyXUOZHl2SETyGohyphenhyphenAuQjTgOo3dqDksdh2f1EN6sFL7-0t5a5noubj4LEmjT_Qo/s1600/DSC00481.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"We are now in a trio!'</span></td></tr>
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http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-38569903597442210612014-07-13T21:39:00.001-07:002014-07-13T21:45:10.112-07:00God has a great sense of humor<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love my life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seriously. Every day I am saying "okay <b>THIS</b> is the new best day of my life!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Every. Day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Everyone should serve a mission. They're the bomb.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And let me tell you why...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You know how we have to get OYMs? Well just about every missionary has a love/hate relationship with them. We are told to talk to everyone that we see but on some days that's just too hard because we have so many appointments and so we end up running around a park or parking lot talking to the 20.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One day this week we were talking to people at the park. I wish someone was videotaping us because the darndest things happen when we're getting our OYMs...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A couple of times a week we are interrupting some couple making out or cuddling or this week it was spanking each other and there is honestly nothing more awkward than saying "</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Hey sorry to interrupt, but I'm a representative of Jesus Christ and I was wondering if you wanted a blessing by chance</i><i>…</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">9 out of 10 times they laugh in our face. Good times!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So I am walking away from said situation when I see a couple walking with their backs to me on my right and a man watching his dog run around the park to my left. I needed 3 more... This is where it gets hard. Most of the time I can't lie I run after the couple because I am that much closer to being done, but every once in a while I feel a little guilty and go for the lone wolf.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This was one of those nights and I'm sad to say... Big mistake.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course! He just wanted to bash. It was lame. He was trying to be nice because I'm a girl and all, but he just wanted to tell me about everything he doesn't like about not only the Mormon religion but others as well. Sister Olsen ended up coming over to make sure I was okay and realized what was going on and so we all ended up sitting down having a nice little talk until it got dark.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was pretty frustrated afterward because he did all of the talking, so we didn't really have a chance to testify or invite him to do anything, but we did try to make one point clear...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He kept saying "<i>you guys believe you are the 'new and improved' with your modern prophets and commandments blah blah blah</i>" but he seriously said it over and over again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He finally took a breath so I took my chance and said "<i>I really respect you and am impressed with the knowledge that you have, but I want to clarify one thing</i></span><i>…w<span style="font-family: inherit;">e don't in any way believe that we have the new and improved gospel. It's the same exact gospel that Jesus Christ established. It was RESTORED</span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>.</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He said I was wrong and continued so we ended up walking away in silence then Sister Olsen goes "<i>God has a great sense of humor</i>". I asked her why and she says...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"<i>I needed 7 more OYMs and there was a single lady walking right toward me, but there was a family of about five a little farther off and I couldn't decide what to do. I went back and forth, back and forth, then decided to go with the family. Literally as soon as I turned toward them, the sprinkler turned on and hit me right in the face. The Dad saw everything it was greattttttt</i>".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Haha I was grateful for my bashing friend Benny after that. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's another great OYM story for the week</span>…</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Olsen and I have been trying to be better about what we eat so we decided no more desserts... It was a killer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Every night when we walk in our apartment I say "sooo who wants a cookie!?" We pathetically look in the cupboard and start munching on some styrofoam aka plain rice cakes. Yuck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So it was late one night while we were OYMing and Sister Olsen turns to me and says "<i>I really want a cookie</i>" Yeah Im not strong enough for that so I say "<i>I'm in!</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We decided to run into Vons (Safeway) and grab cookies from their bakery. We had 3 dollars left over from some money a member gave us for dinner and I had two dollars in my wallet. We were walking in all giddy about what we could get with our $5!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We're pathetic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We went in and walked past the deli where there was a black lady talking to the deli lady. She looks at us and goes "<i>Hey are you Mormons!?</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We turn around, still all giddy, and say "<i>Yes we are!</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She smiles, says bye to her friend and then asks for help. She tells us a story about how her house burned down the night before and her family is in the Super 8 and they have nowhere to go. She keeps telling us that she's not lying and that she doesn't have enough money to keep the room for one more night. Then I kid you not she says "<i>I am just 5 dollars short, do you think you could help me out?</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I can't lie, I paused then sort of giggled to myself and said "<i>Well, I have some really good news. We have exactly $5</i>" as I reached into my bag and grab it. I look up to hand her the money and she has tears streaming down her face. She hugged us and said thank you over and over and then we went our separate ways...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Isn't that so cool!? I have such a strong testimony that God puts us right where we need to be. I have no idea if she was telling the truth, for all I know she could have used the money for drugs, but I don't care because I know that the money was not mine to have, it was hers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Goodness I seriously haven't even gotten to the best part of my wholeeee life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I came to Hemet I walked into two baptisms. Carey and Harmony. They are teenage girls that decided to go to church with Carey's grandma, then decided to take the discussions, then decided to go to seminary, then decided to go to trek last week, get baptized yesterday to then go to girl's camp next week... Nbd.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvbnDNvnrgZ93p78S-6fP5ia_z60ne7m_ymSg44aaRgA0OY9UszhnFN1mIdqxncOJYoVEhqP1j0AJNC95v8Xo8mLID9Fes8U-LF3wrTsR1npvT2mDBmU0x8oEgURKVkT5eEp4WNd-8pc/s1600/DSC00428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvbnDNvnrgZ93p78S-6fP5ia_z60ne7m_ymSg44aaRgA0OY9UszhnFN1mIdqxncOJYoVEhqP1j0AJNC95v8Xo8mLID9Fes8U-LF3wrTsR1npvT2mDBmU0x8oEgURKVkT5eEp4WNd-8pc/s1600/DSC00428.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"This is our ward mission leader and his buddy Luke, Harmony, Carey, Sister Olsen, <br />me and Sister Buskie. Oh happy day!"</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So on Saturday we were just about to leave to go type up the programs for the baptism, which was super great because we had the youth do everything and our ward mission leader, who lost his left leg on mission (two transfers before he went home he was hit by a train) was going to baptize them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When we get a phone call from Maria.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I answered the phone and she says "<i>I want my kids to be baptized in English ward tomorrow. What do I have to do to do that?"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, Im serious.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">All week we were talking to her and the Elders trying to explain that going to Spanish ward was going to be best for their eternal family. (I wrote all about it last week.) It was super emotional for me. But this week Maria kept telling us that she wanted to go to the English ward, so then we sent the Elders over and she agreed to go to the Spanish ward...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Side note</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">one of the elders "convinced" them by saying "<i>if this was a $10 church and this was a $1 church, which one would you choose?</i>" Obviously Felipe said the $10 one and then the elders says "<i>that's the Spanish ward</i>".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Idiot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When they told us that and I said "<i>woah what!? No! It's the same church! They're both $10 churches!</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seriously Elders, get it together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyway, when Maria called she also said that she doesn't want the Elders coming over anymore and that she wants to go to English ward to which I responded...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"<i>Okay, we can do that. Can we come over at 7 to have them interviewed?</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Which we did. Which they rocked. Which made yesterday the best day of my mission.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But it gets even better...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The baptismal font is in the Primary room and we scheduled the baptism right after church so people could just stay a little longer for the baptism. Well while we were in the hall taking pictures everyone starts flooding out of the Primary room, literally 5 minutes before it starts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So many people came to the baptism that we had to do it in the chapel...how cool is that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When we went back in the Primary room for the actual ordinance it was <b>PACKED</b>. Half of the people in there had to stand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Olsen and I were standing at the top of the stairs so we could give them a big hug with their towels as they walked out...it was seriously the best thing ever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The spirit was so strong and it was amazing to watch Brother Bagley baptize them. He had to have his buddy Luke hold him for balance, but it was flawless and the first time he has baptized since his mission.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh and when it was Gweneth's and Felipe's turn, Bagley did it in Spanish. Which brings tears to my eyes just writing about it because we didn't know that he was going to do that and it made it so that the 3 family members that were there could feel the spirit through the power of the priesthood.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxz7BjHq1SZkbme9HnIDjOU8gdYTHemxeaGqLxQVLEvVyu4epXFzw9GtUuhB2xMAMynYCvOMLn_5hpfSQvHXJxB6nHLorFiC4s_2NVxND7VO5oC0aQxt9Mjxa4T-mKNeKGaDJfJO6Epk/s1600/DSCN2429%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxz7BjHq1SZkbme9HnIDjOU8gdYTHemxeaGqLxQVLEvVyu4epXFzw9GtUuhB2xMAMynYCvOMLn_5hpfSQvHXJxB6nHLorFiC4s_2NVxND7VO5oC0aQxt9Mjxa4T-mKNeKGaDJfJO6Epk/s1600/DSCN2429%255B1%255D.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"Happy Sabbath with the Gonzalez family!"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love my life. I seriously do. I wish you could all come and be at these baptisms. They are the best.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This mission is the best. This week we also had our last multi-zone with President and Sister Smart. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ughhh I can't even write about it without crying!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was all good until the end. President did a Q & A about how it was all going to work and then he had Sister Smart bear her testimony. So grateful I was sitting next to my girl Anderson because we were sobbing. Actually the tears all started when one of the elders during the Q & A asked President if he could extend. It was weird, it was awful, but it was good. I know that President Mullen is called of God and that he is going to be great, but the best way I can describe the whole experience is it was like saying goodbye to my parents all over again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We sang the closing hymn "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" which we always stand out of respect for them. I actually pulled myself together during the hymn. I don't know how, lots of prayer I guess. And then we sat down for the closing prayer... I must have missed it when it was announced, but President Smart said the benediction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In 3 Nephi we read about Jesus praying over the little children but that they can't write what he said because it was too sacred and too powerful. This was sort of like that, just not as sacred. He expressed gratitude for our work and then began to bless us. He called upon the authority through the priesthood keys that he holds and emotionally blessed us. There were a lot of people crying after that.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPJaQsUu-A3tBYp9B0yYVVg_EWDVG9-cycYcOCMLuDFucU1qVWZHLrRwCULVZiOm0auBglnpHlsTbkZI7NFnwWC3n_rSskZjTF90nvSMu5Wex1TIm-kcB2LiWawrR_5uDz7J43HsC4c4/s1600/FSCN2426%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPJaQsUu-A3tBYp9B0yYVVg_EWDVG9-cycYcOCMLuDFucU1qVWZHLrRwCULVZiOm0auBglnpHlsTbkZI7NFnwWC3n_rSskZjTF90nvSMu5Wex1TIm-kcB2LiWawrR_5uDz7J43HsC4c4/s1600/FSCN2426%255B1%255D.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Last time with President and Sister Smart"</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55Ncj9KskYbwtukHe9k3OaMXppR6ZmxzMdttnq3DsgXCKLHr_Ru4nEaLnAAKQYrETaw6kq3xZjYylYJjHHWPCMSbGGcfzGuznewywwAZppJH3q7oucMvHD0X7M3OPEOjFERygnf62hSs/s1600/DSCN2423%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55Ncj9KskYbwtukHe9k3OaMXppR6ZmxzMdttnq3DsgXCKLHr_Ru4nEaLnAAKQYrETaw6kq3xZjYylYJjHHWPCMSbGGcfzGuznewywwAZppJH3q7oucMvHD0X7M3OPEOjFERygnf62hSs/s1600/DSCN2423%255B1%255D.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"I wish we took an actual picture of it, but this is me asking President if I can hug him…<br />he said yes :)"</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am so grateful for this opportunity that I have to serve. I know I say that a lot but you really don't get it until you serve. The mission is the best thing that ever happened to me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love you all,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Nelson</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(email received June 23, 2014)</span></div>
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http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-85630891616929723412014-07-13T20:10:00.002-07:002014-07-13T20:10:33.208-07:00An awesome email<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay so I have to send this to you. A real tear jerker... This was Presidents email this week. And I don't know if you remember, but he only has 3 more weeks in the mission... :(:(:(</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">From President Smart...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As you probably know, Elder Perry visited and trained the Stake Presidencies and Bishops who serve in our mission boundary on Saturday, and then spoke at the Moreno Valley Stake Conference on Sunday.<br /><br />Sister Smart and I had an opportunity to visit with him, too. While we visited, Sister Smart asked, "Elder Perry, what would you want our missionaries to know?" Elder Perry replied with this answer, "Tell them they have, and are doing a marvelous job. Tell them to stay strong and keep on doing the good that they are engaged in. They are doing a hard thing. The people of the world are losing their faith. The missionaries in this mission need to continue to stand as a beacon of light and hope to the world. Tell them to stay strong and active in the gospel. Tell them to attend the temple often after they return home. Tell them the only place they will ever find peace is staying true to the things they are teaching."<br /><br />Elder Perry is 91 years old, but he is full of life and energy. He extends his love and admiration to each of you. Sister Smart and I do the same. We love you and are so grateful for the opportunity we have to work together with you in this great cause.<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />President and Sister Smart<br /><br />PS - Don't forget to send copies of your baptism pictures. We only have a couple of weeks left before we will be making the baptism DVD for our June Multi-zone conference.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love him. I love Elder Perry. I love this gospel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(email received June 23, 2014)</span></div>
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http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-10064789033426148012014-07-13T20:03:00.000-07:002014-07-13T20:05:08.150-07:00This is HIS work and HIS glory<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am so sorry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I truly do feel bad for my lack of updates the past few months, especially with all of the blessings I've received. Today I'll repent and try to make restitution.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Each P-Day in Corona was stressful for me to write weekly letters because there wasn't as much work to talk about. In Hemet just about every day I say "<i>I can't wait to write home about this</i>" so when Monday rolls along it's too stressful to try to "update" because there is <b>SO</b> much to talk about. But that's blessed stress if you ask me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am going to update you on only two of our investigating families this week. There is at least 4 or 5 others I could talk about who were miracles just the same, but this week I want to focus on Ashley and Travis and the Gonzalez family because this week, I, like Nephi, "<i>pray[ed] continually for them by day, and mine eyes water[ed] my pillow by night because of them; and I cr[ied] unto my God in faith, and I know that He [did] hear my cr[ies] and... consecrate my prayers</i>".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ashley and Travis are a young couple who have been through a lot. If you saw them walking down the street at first glance you'd judge them. You'd judge them by their skin of tattoos and facial piercings. But at second glace, you'd begin to repent because you would see that they are a lovely couple who have put everything they have into their newborn son Abel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A little over a month ago, the elders OYM'd them in a parking lot and to their surprise, Travis was an inactive member with a non member girlfriend who had just had a baby. They were wanting to get involved in a church so their son would be raised the way God intended.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Luckily for us, they live in our area so the elders had to hand them over. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">By the time I arrived in Hemet, they had already been taught the restoration. Before I was able to meet them, all I kept hearing was how humble and sweet they are and how precious baby Abel is. The only concern was that they were not married which is a requirement if you are living with someone, before baptism. Well, that or being separated, which was not an option in this case.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The day I met them was the day I became obsessed with them. Everything I had heard was truer than true and it has only gotten better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When you're a missionary and you find a concern and then the first thing you should do is resolve it, naturally. Which is exactly what we did. We taught and testified of the importance of not having sexual relationships outside the bonds of marriage and how when we are sealed in the temple, not only are we sealed to our spouse, but our children as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pure bliss.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then we said "<i>Ashley before you are baptized you must be married...</i>" and with a smirk on her face she turned and looked at Travis. Bashfully, he said they had full intent of getting married before the baby came, but that it just didn't happen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And then Ashley says "<i>I've been trying to get him to marry me for the past 2 years!</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Haha we all laughed and then Travis said that they looked into it all and that they just want a courthouse wedding first so that they can all have the same last name and the cost of that will be $136. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Once he said that, I sort of interrupted and said "<i>woah wait what!? $136? Oh do I have exciting news for you! You guys only have to pay for the $90 license and Bishop can marry you for free!</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">They. Were. So. Excited.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So instead of starting with a baptismal date, we set a marriage date and Ashley was being all funny about it and kept saying "<i>Don't look at me! I'd marry you tomorrow! This is your thing</i>".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Travis decided to do it the weekend he got paid, which was about 3 weeks away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then <b>WE</b> were excited.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Next we got into the baptismal date, and Travis says "<i>well, why not just do it the next day? Can we do that?"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"<i>YES! Yes, we can do that!!</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So on Friday Ahsley was interviewed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On Saturday they were married in Bishop's office.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And yesterday Ashley was baptized.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYeZccUvTrqbu2ZJAqKJX-ddzJKEMH6Ut83_6HBCXLbHr2Menoag5uPjdGxxcuBdc9PQLFTHc1VGNLemQA61bbcFqJZGPHwe1WVZSk8u4f_X97N7CaAkF2QS-fbIN9TAr-T9_IC4n7m2s/s1600/DSCN2420%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYeZccUvTrqbu2ZJAqKJX-ddzJKEMH6Ut83_6HBCXLbHr2Menoag5uPjdGxxcuBdc9PQLFTHc1VGNLemQA61bbcFqJZGPHwe1WVZSk8u4f_X97N7CaAkF2QS-fbIN9TAr-T9_IC4n7m2s/s1600/DSCN2420%5B1%5D.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Travis, Abel, Ashley, Nat and Sister Olsen</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is so much joy that comes from watching someone covenant with the Lord through baptism. But there is "exceedingly great joy" when that ordinance makes them one step closer to being an eternal family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After the baptism Travis said "<i>This is my first Father's Day and I don't think there will be a better one.</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love them. Sincerely love them and am so excited for them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's not always like that, you know. People will meet with us and receive all the lessons, if not most. They'll come to church 3 times. They'll repent and change their lives...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And then they'll move. Or...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He won't marry her. Or...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He gets offended. Or...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He goes to jail.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seriously</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">all of that has happened this past month. So the feelings we have for those who endure and enter through the gate that leads to the most sacred and eternal blessings of them all, is indescribable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">They're miracles. That's what they are...miracles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And every day we see miracles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Such as the Gonzalez family...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now I know that I wrote about them before and that I am going to repeat myself, but bear with me. I just want you to really remember what they mean to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I first got here in hemet, Sister Olsen and I were spending the day visiting part member families with very little luck. It was late afternoon, probably 100 degress, when again we knock with no answer. As we walk back to the car, Sister olsen stops for a second, looks at me and with a little hesitation says "<i>Do you want to just tract this street?</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">NO. I really didn't want to. I was a sweaty, hot and tired mess and I honestly thought it would be a waste of time, but the street wasn't very long so I followed behind my faithful companion to the next house. We knock and to my surprise the door opened and sweet Maria Gonzalez welcomed us in to leave a blessing with her family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She gathered her 3 children, 2 who are of age of accountability, and we start talking. It was more of a "let's chat and become friends" rather than a "what needs can we include in this blessing" kind of thing. We fell in love with them really quick, so we were excited to invite them to baptism after the blessing. The spirit was <b>SO</b> strong as we extended the invitation and they all agreed that was something they wanted to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There was a pause for a moment, then Maria turns to her children and goes off in Spanish (for the most part she has her children translate for her) and they looked at her and kept saying "<i>Si!Si!</i>" then looked at us and said "<i>Our mom told us that this isn't something we are going to do and then never go to church again, this is something we will do for the rest of our lives</i>."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I thought the room was going to expload there was so much spirit. They became our miracle family. We offered to have the Spanish elders come teach, but Maria said she understands English and wants us to teach them... This seriously might have been the best day of my life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As we taught them we loved them more and more. They are beyond elect.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But we had a concern. The same concern we had with Ashley</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">were Maria and Felipe actually married??</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Apparently that's a frequent problem we have here in Hemet USA.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Olsen and I prayed for a way that they could all be sealed together, for all eternity. And like we all know, God heard and answered our prayers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Law of Chastity was the 3rd lesson we taught and because of the little children that were present, we handed Maria the pamphlet and said that we weren't going to go into too much detail so she should read it on her own that night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We turn to the children and say, "<i>the law of chastity is pretty much that we don't want to have babies until after we're married.</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In unison they quickly look at their mom, giggle, then look back at us and say "<i>our mom and dad aren't married</i>". Then the youngest says "<i>I thought we have babies and then get married!</i>" :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We all awkwardly laughed and then Sister Olsen and I began to testify of eternal families. As we talked with Maria she told us how they've been together for 15 years, but the last couple of years she feels like she's the only one putting in any effort. She still really wants to get baptized but doesn't want to separate (for the kids) and doesn't want to get married just to get divorced.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We offered the only other solution we could think of and that was if her boyfriend also took the lessons then maybe he would put in more effort for his eternal family. She agreed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This part I am going to have to sum up really quick. And to me it's the best part because it's the part in missionary work when we truly feel God's love for His children. Through lots of meetings and some disappointing phone calls, we decided with the Spanish Elders, that it would be best for the boyfriend and his future family to be baptized in the Spanish ward. It was hard to let them go especially with all the lessons taught and just 8 days before the children's baptisms.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But, I am not here for numbers or my own glory. I am here so that families will one day be glorified with our Heavenly Father.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I cried the whole day they officially weren't "ours" but I am so grateful that in a few weeks, the Gonzalez family will be baptized and begin the journey to the temple.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is why we are here, to find the lost, teach the elect and baptize the repentant. This is the work of the Lord, the holiest work I will do, and there are no more important 18 months of my life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is <b>HIS</b> work and <b>HIS</b> glory. It was for this purpose the Savior came to earth and gave His life and was resurrected, so we could open the possibilities and promises of eternal life. How grateful I am to be called to this great and most sacred work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I know that my Redeemer lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I know the truth has been restored.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I know we are the children of a loving Heavenly Father.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And I know one day we will live with Him again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I know these things to be true and I know you can too. Do the work. Have the faith and trust in your Father who wants you to feel the exceedingly great joy of the gospel. I so testify, humbly, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Nelson</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(email received June 16, 2014)</span></div>
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http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-60663079096142740492014-06-16T13:04:00.000-07:002014-06-16T13:23:50.018-07:00Fruitful in Fruitvale<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ello Chaps!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay so I haven't been the best at sending an email home <b>AND</b> it sounds like Mom hasn't been the best at updating the blog... Sorry, not sorry for being <b>SO</b> busy. I'm speaking for the both of us :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's a quickie update:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Got transferred from Corona after a solid 9 months!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now in the ghetto. Fruitvale ward in good ole Hemet USA!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Released from STL (not sad about it, it's a blessing) and I'm comps with Sister Olsen! Love her. She says funny things like "our phone is on the fritz!"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">In a car.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">So much work we didn't use our whole lunch hour a single day this week.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Investigators for dayzzzzz!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Word.</span></li>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJ9Q5zQDrQt2Gw-WjpKNwjCMSCQqeerjzj9AU5Qc1zFkyK0rVc19NKhssCLu2qkB582umu5qmpeFwewZtOOb_H1l2uWhylgZMB14R6FhOIZfysDIJ6YtbvYq6jURwAZkKDQmW4fACJIU/s1600/DSC00365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJ9Q5zQDrQt2Gw-WjpKNwjCMSCQqeerjzj9AU5Qc1zFkyK0rVc19NKhssCLu2qkB582umu5qmpeFwewZtOOb_H1l2uWhylgZMB14R6FhOIZfysDIJ6YtbvYq6jURwAZkKDQmW4fACJIU/s1600/DSC00365.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Nat and Sister Olsen taking a break in the shade</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay...now I can't believe all of the things that happened this week. Hemet is golden. That doesn't even begin to explain how much I love it here. I also don't think I have enough time to share everythinggggg so I'll share the best part...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Especially since I only have 15 minutes...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So we were driving around trying to meet some inactive part member families. Not too much luck. We were at a loss of what to do and decided just to tract the street we were on. It wasn't very long so we could tough the heat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We walked to the next door and knocked. A sweet early 30's Hispanic lady opened the door, we offered her a blessing and she let us in. Normally I would be way more excited, but we've been giving blessings like nobody's business over here</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">No, I'm not lucky I'm blessed. Yes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We sat and chatted a little bit. Acutally let's stop here for a second. One of my top 10 tips for missionaries is to be normal! It's okay to chat with people even if it's not religious talk. You were called to your area for your personality. Don't lose it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So we were chatting and laughing and having a jolly good time and Maria (the mom) says "<i>you're not Mormon are you?</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That question always makes your heart drop a little</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We said <i>"yes"</i> and then she goes <i>"oh good!"</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank goodness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She goes on to tell us that she has had lessons before when they were living in Chicago for a short period of time and they really loved it, but when they moved here they lost contact and didn't know where to go</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">and then we showed up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We left a blessing and then of course, talked about the Restoration and The Book of Mormon and invited her to baptism... To which they all (being her and her two kids Gweneth-11 and Phillipe-9) nod their heads and say "<i>yes!</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then Maria started talking to them in Spanish, she can understand what we're saying but is a bit insecure about her English so she tries and then just has her kids translate for her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Gweneth turns to us and says "</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">she just told us that this isn't something that we are going to do and then just stop, that it's something we are going to do for the rest of our lives</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Uh we <b>DREAM</b> about stuff like this. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's fine. Just living the dream over here!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We put them on date for baptism and scheduled another lesson for later in the week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So we go back to teach the Restoration fully and it was <b>AWESOME</b>. They got it and were answering questions before we would even ask them! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seriously, half way through the lesson Maria started talking about how when we pray to God with sincere desire that's when our prayers are answered... when we really want and believe they can be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Little did she know she was quoting a prophet who had said that 1500 years earlier... <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/10.3-5?lang=eng">Moroni 10:3-5</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">They went to mexico for the weekend so they weren't able to go to church, but she explained again that even though they can't go this week they intend on going every Sunday for the rest of their lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh my gosh I can't believe I forgot this part</span>…</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When we went back for the return appointment she told us how she had called her Dad to tell him that she was getting baptized and how excited she is (which to us was exciting enough) and then goes on to say that her Dad was so excited and that he got a little bit emotional because</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He was baptized Mormon too!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And so were some of her other family members. Those would be the people she is spending the 3-day weekend with.... Happy Memorial Day!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have such a strong testimony that Heavenly Father loves all of His children and wants us all to return and live with Him again. He is preparing them. I promise you He is, just open your mouth and share the gospel with your friends and family. If you think about it there is no greater act of love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am praying for you all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Love you longtime,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Nelson</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(email received May 26, 2014)</span></div>
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http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-58096822462114468192014-04-30T19:08:00.000-07:002014-05-01T08:06:11.976-07:00We live in a world full of krazy kats!<div style="background-color: white;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Momma Nelson said my peeps want an email update....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, this is for the peeps.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I really should be excited because we picked up a new investigator this week! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>M I R A C L E</b> let me tell ya.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We had lunch with all of the sisters in Corona for Sister Mangums birthday (don't have a picture sorry about that) and we were just having a jolly good time at Chipotle when I checked the phone and saw that we were blown up! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That <b>NEVER</b> happens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We had 3 missed calls and 3 text messages from our dear Sister Sutherland from the ward. All I can remember is that one of the texts said "<i>Where are you?? I have a baptism for you!</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So we called her and told her we'd be there in 10 minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We arrived and met the Kat. Actually, her name is Kathy. It's fine. Apparently they had a very spiritual experience watching an Irish man singing Hallelujah while marrying a couple</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's non-LDS related and is going viral? #kray</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/v9-ZuTVPj4c?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well after feeling the spirit through that they watched a fireside on youtube (LDS related) and that was also very powerful and afterwards Sister Sutherland says "<i>Kathy, you need to be baptized..it's time!</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then we walked in and since she had felt the spirit she obviously needs to be baptized so we went over what she needed to do to make that happen... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">First, we mentioned the interview questions and told her that we will go over those with her (which we did later and she passed) and that she needs to come to church 3 times before she can be baptized. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She said "<i>So, could I go to the 9 o'clock, 11 o'clock and 2 o'clock wards?</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We giggled and said that it doesn't really work like that... #krazykool</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We closed up the meeting with watching #becauseofhim, obvi, and she loved it and felt the spirit again and cried and still wanted to be baptized... on Mother's Day! (I forgot to add that little detail!) :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We left all excited and called our District Leader freaking out and having a really good time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Until Thursday, our next lesson...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We told Kat that even though she already knows everything (she has had the lessons a few times and was active a couple of years ago, just never baptized) that we were still going to teach them again, just in case.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We taught her the Restoration and she <b>LOVED</b> it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seriously, <b>REALLY</b> loved it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She had us recite the first vision <b>TWICE</b>... #kray</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, we have this bomb of a lesson, say a closing prayer, oh and we gave her some more commitments to keep and then as we were walking out the door talking about coming to church on Sunday...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">*Ladies and gentlemen, please keep all hand and feet inside the car cause we are going for a ride*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She begins to tell us that she doesn't like the people at church! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She has nicknames for them such as</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">a man who she claims took everything away from her she calls Steingrabber instead of Steingraber. Oh and there is a lady who is apparently evil (she's really not, she's the sweetest and we love her) whose name is Gaylene and she calls her Gaymean.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And to make matters worse, she goes on a little rant about how she is going to get "Gaymean" in the </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Tucker and I were walking as fast as we could to the car saying under our breath "<i>Please make it stop. Please stop talking. Why is this happening?</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I literally thought that I was going to have a heart attack at church yesterday because "Steingrabber" sat right next to the door at church so we were both praying that Krazy Kat wouldn't come in swinging. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Tucker was so stressed she literally developed a zit by the time we were in Relief Society.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kat didn't end up attending sacrament, but did make it to the last two hours. Relief Society was the best. And by best, I mean worst.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She was talking to the people around her about other sisters and the reasons she doesn't like them and she wasn't doing it quietly. We had all sorts of questions after church from just about every member of the ward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But it's fine. We're all krazy and we all need to be baptized. Even the Kats.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Needless to say, tomorrows lessons is going to be about charity and that we are <b>ALL</b> children of God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm out of time, but I love you all!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Peace out peeps!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">xoxo</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Kool</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFEkCMAnMO3DOgfnOxPP-otQRyE9YNujjPF64Mia2R1Oj3I7GxMtyK5TscUF6G9BKt5OxQ5UjyYhTNNekm9ZJbbL1ooyhC4VdP8E6pa6klgkldrOMi1GhKCHeBeLMTsuFik5K4XTPQgY/s1600/IMG_2985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFEkCMAnMO3DOgfnOxPP-otQRyE9YNujjPF64Mia2R1Oj3I7GxMtyK5TscUF6G9BKt5OxQ5UjyYhTNNekm9ZJbbL1ooyhC4VdP8E6pa6klgkldrOMi1GhKCHeBeLMTsuFik5K4XTPQgY/s1600/IMG_2985.JPG" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Me and my girl Amy"</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-48761339419264777972014-04-15T15:50:00.001-07:002014-04-15T16:12:25.781-07:00#BecauseofHim<div style="background-color: white;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello my d</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">ear Brothers and Sisters,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So this week there isn't much to write about which is actually good because I really wanted to spend this email focusing on the Savior.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMe7QSxWUonCSNox-XyJgmPEulRLPvGAe8h_dy4lYlGVDZtmR8BMQq_XdiFQp5yNVK5nYZ7zj9NKuX4fgQUYtUfYLCaGCAtcO8qeYr4teL1eF9jmrMgPH-Za0reNmzeSBJON1Oen1bDk/s1600/woman-at-the-well-941814-gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMe7QSxWUonCSNox-XyJgmPEulRLPvGAe8h_dy4lYlGVDZtmR8BMQq_XdiFQp5yNVK5nYZ7zj9NKuX4fgQUYtUfYLCaGCAtcO8qeYr4teL1eF9jmrMgPH-Za0reNmzeSBJON1Oen1bDk/s1600/woman-at-the-well-941814-gallery.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0rPvzq85m_WTuLGIb-M5X6bNvOO2KLersnGXnWvi2-SFq7XdYBLWeEIan9N_5HBeyYGbWvwvvDoc1wjr8d05PglNrDCkOwuQi6iE1io3kBhqk02QRE4oQ1xFjhRiEyHf4q4tex1dPFk/s1600/jesus-easter-821667-gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0rPvzq85m_WTuLGIb-M5X6bNvOO2KLersnGXnWvi2-SFq7XdYBLWeEIan9N_5HBeyYGbWvwvvDoc1wjr8d05PglNrDCkOwuQi6iE1io3kBhqk02QRE4oQ1xFjhRiEyHf4q4tex1dPFk/s1600/jesus-easter-821667-gallery.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So here's a quick recap before we get to the good stuff:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sick missionaries. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">No investigators. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">No contact with Sienna. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bike was stolen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Zero mail. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In 95 degree weather.</span></div>
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But, still happy livin' the good life.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay now before you continue reading,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">please</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">remove any distractions, take a deep breath and watch this video:</span></div>
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/_S3TI4bYerU/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/_S3TI4bYerU&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/_S3TI4bYerU&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> (For more info go to <a href="http://www.mormon.org/becauseofhim">www.mormon.org/becauseofhim</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's fine. You can watch it 100 more times. I get it. I'm obsessed too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Isn't it <b>so</b> good!? The church really rocked it this time. I don't think I've seen a better Easter message in my entire life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It gave me a whole new outlook on Easter. Normally, I am full of gratitude for Christ dying for us and that through that sacrifice we are able to be made whole by the cleansing power of the Atonement. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Which I still feel 100%, but this video reminds me that the sacrifice was for each one of us, no matter our religious beliefs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That we are all here because of Christ. That nothing would be possible without Him. He is our greatest gift, our greatest blessing. It is through Him we can have eternal peace and joy. It's through Him that we can start over and over and over again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And do you know what's really cool? He lives. And we will too. We will all be reunited once again, in perfect bodies after this life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But, we can't take that for granted. We have to act now. We've been given all the tools that we need to be the most successful in this life and the life to come, but we must use them every day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We need to be on our knees morning and night pleading with the Lord, trying to align ourselves with His will. We must diligently study the scriptures every day to receive answers and to nourish our souls with the word of God. We must be humble and change, repent of the things we've done wrong and strive to become more like our Savior.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Most importanly, we need to make partaking of the sacrament our number one priority. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Those 15 minutes are vital to our week. That's the fresh start. That's being born again. That's our second chance </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">when we partake of the bread and water in remembrance our Master and King. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't think that we will ever fully comprehend what the Savior accomplished during His earthly ministry, especially in the Garden of Gethsemane, but I do know that we have the chance to come closer to Him each day by applying His teachings to our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And do you want to know the best part? The Atonement doesn't just cover our sins, it's so much more. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In The Book of<span style="color: black;"> Mormon we read "<i>And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions </i></span><i><span style="color: black;">and temptations</span><span style="color: black;"> of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon</span><span style="color: black;"> him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death</span><span style="color: black;">, that he may loose </span><span style="color: black;">the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor</span></i><span style="color: black;"><i> his people according to their infirmities.</i>"</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Seriously, it just keeps getting better. And that's the purppose of the gospel. It's the hope that we all need in mortality.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">I know that my Redeemer lives and it is because of Him that I am here today. I know that the true gospel of Jesus Christ, the same one that He Himself established here on earth, is found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know that He will come to earth once more and that is the day we are all preparing for.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">I invite all of you to really ponder your personal testimony of Jesus Christ and how His Atonement has blessed you. I then invite you all to share this video with your friends and in it include your testimony of Jesus Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">We are all children of God. We all have trials and heartbreaks. We are all brothers and sisters. And we will all live again.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">I leave my testimony with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">With all of my love,</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Sister Nelson</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(email </span>received<span style="font-family: inherit;"> April 14, 2014)</span></span></div>
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http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-32356270353089002532014-04-13T21:23:00.001-07:002014-04-14T07:20:59.620-07:00We left the 99 to find the 1<div style="background-color: white;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay party people,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">First things first, uhh was conference not the the greatest thing ever!! I was glued to each speaker. I </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">LOVED</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> it! I can't even say who my favorites were because there were too many to talk about and ain't nobody got time for that.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay okay okay, so here it is in 38 minutes. Remember a month or so ago when I told you an awfully sad story about Sienna?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After we met with her and bought her all those clothes (that she didn't take with her), Sister Boden and I and Brother Mc Kee tried to find her. We searched around the park where we dropped her off, but never had any luck. The only thing we could do was pray and pray and pray and trust that Heavenly Father was taking care of her and that she was in safe hands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So then I got transferred and am living the dream with STL Tucker (that's what she likes to refer to herself as) and there have been a couple of times that we have made a game plan for the miracle of ever seeing Sienna again (remember that Sister Tucker taught her once too), but we sort of came to the realization that we probably weren't going to see her again. For all we knew she wasn't even in the country.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now fast forward to GCW (General Conference Weekend) we were super excited because we had dropped </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">ALL</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> of our investigators...we had some hope for one, but we really needed a spiritual boost. So we are sitting at conference having a jolly good time, letting the spirit fill our souls when we get a text from our ward mission leader telling us that our last investigator that had a sliver of hope didn't show up for conference</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I look at Tucker and she says "</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">what should I say?</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">" and I respond "</span><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">that we have to drop him</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">that's three weeks in a row of </span>canceling</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">". :( </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We were pretty bummed. Actually more than bummed. We literally had no one. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Zip. Zero. Nothin. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And that's really hard, especially when you're in leadership and are expected to baptize each month and are accountable to the APs in front of President purely on how many you've baptized</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay enough pity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After conference we decided to search and start with some part member families and some less actives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So we are driving down this hill, it's actually a real big hill called Masters and every time we see courageous humans either making their way up the hill running or on bike, we look at them and something like "<i>bless their souls</i>" or "<i>get it girl</i>" comes out of our mouths.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So Saturday was a little bit on the warmer side, and so when we saw a cute young girl making her way up the hill we were actually a little more envious than proud</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;"> (Another story for another day. It's fine.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We drove a little further and there was another girl running and she had on those old school Adidas track pants and a big t-shirt. I was driving and said "<i>oh my gosh their are two of them making the climb</i>".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Right before we passed the second girl, I get one last look and go from jealousy to completely flabbergasted and yell "<i>oh my gosh that was Sienna!</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now Sister Tucker who is a tad more rational than I am said "<i>no, that was not</i>" and of course, I get all defensive and say "<i>Sister Tucker, yes it is!</i>" #prideproblems</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I flip the car around really fast (driving kind of like a crazy person) and have Sister Tucker try and get a good look at her since I wasn't wearing my contacts or glasses (it's fine). She still stuck with her "Sister Nelson is losing it" attitude when my second quick glimpse only confirmed what I knew to be true</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes I am giving credit to the spirit here, there is no other way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I pull over a block ahead of her and jump out of the car and start walking towards her. Sister Tucker keeps looking at me saying things like "<i>Uh so how are you going to approach this? What are we going to do if it's not her?</i>" Lot's of doubt you know #compunity . </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I just said "<i>I am going to OYM her if it's her or not</i>".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">*10 minute warning*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As we are closing in on each other and probably 20 feet away Sister Tucker turns and looks at me with a look of "<i>uh what are we going to do!?</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm focused in on her and like a mad woman stop in the middle of the sidewalk and say "<i>Hi!</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now I clearly see her face, throw my hands in the air and say "<i>How are you!?</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">With a not as excited response she says "<i>Good</i>". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I ask her if she remembers me, which she does and we begin to ask her how she is doing, where she is living, why she is running the Masters hill...and the whole time she is very short, never smiles and is extremely paranoid. Constantly looking behind her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She tells us that she misses us a lot and she says it quite a few times and with the purest most sincere face. She said she is living with her family again and gives us a looks that we know really means a whole lot of other things. We asked if we could meet with her and she gives us her address</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Get this</span>…she's<span style="font-family: inherit;"> in the El Cerrito ward (my new ward). I kid you not. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That was about it though for our conversation. She told us that we needed to talk to her mom if we wanted to meet with her, but to stop by anytime and runs away</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Even just writing this now, I'm still shocked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We honestly didn't know what to do so we creeped on her house (super nice) and of course, expressed all sorts of gratitude to Heavenly Father. </span></div>
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Both Tucker and I knew after we saw her that we weren't getting transferred.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">How cool is that!? Heavenly Father lead us straight to her. We are the two sisters that taught her. She lives in our area. We dropped all of our investigators to find her. We left the 99 to find the 1!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have 0 minutes left, but I want to testify to you that I know that we are all children of God, he loves us and is <b>ALWAYS</b> mindful of us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love you all and miss you like crazy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Sister Nelson</span></span><br />
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PS. <span style="font-family: inherit;">I have said this before and I'll say it again Homegirl Nelson has a little bit of a pride issue</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Tucker and I back our car in as much as possible so we don't have to back eachother out. Well, one night Sister Tucker was driving (it's simply a fact that I can back into places that she can't) and there was only one really tight squeeze-of-a-spot left when we got home. So, naturally we switched seats so I could back our baby in. Yeah</span>…it was so close <span style="font-family: inherit;">I was unable to get out on my side and had to clime over and </span>squeeeeze<span style="font-family: inherit;"> out of Tucker's side. I couldn't have fit on my side, even if I could have opened the door. #prideproblems</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(Editor's note: I'm sure the owner of the car next to theirs really appreciated her talent the next morning when he/she couldn't get into their car!)</span><br />
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(email received April 7, 2014)</div>
http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-89114050659909578832014-04-13T20:12:00.001-07:002014-04-13T21:47:21.740-07:00Love. Compete. Serve. Repeat.<div style="background-color: white;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">First things first</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>CONGRATULATIONS TO MR AND MRS TRYON!!!!!!!!</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I died over the photos. I literally could not stop crying. I'm still crying. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>SO, SO, SO</b> happy for my two best friends!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sealed for all eternity what a beautiful thing :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I can't lie though, when people ask me what was the hardest part of my mission, I will hands down say missing #MalAndTyguy'swedding... Love you Pally.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay now on to the less depressing</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">actually it could definitely be more depressing. Yesterday I sent in the worst numbers of my mission. 8 zeros ... I can't believe I just wrote that. We dropped <b>A L L</b> of our investigators yesterday because no one came to church and so no one is progressing and so Sister Tucker and Sister Nelson just about died. It's fine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So this week is going to be straight crazy. We've got MLC on Thursday, ZDM on Friday and <b>TRANSFERS</b> on Saturday and we are just going to be finding <b>ALL</b> week!! #PrayForUs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">However, I decided to try and make this week's email sups exciting since I didn't send one last week and I've been kind of lame</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here. We. Go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Monday</b>: Lame sauce. Haha Jk. Well sort of, it was just P-Day so nothing too cool happened. Except I was writing little notes to some of the sisters in the mission and I thought I was being <b>SO</b> funny by writing <b>"HAGS"</b> at the end of them. When I went to show Sister Tucker how lucky she is to have such a funny companion she looks at me and goes "<i>Did you mean to write <b>HUGS</b>?</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I looked at her for a really long time and said "<i>Pleaseeeeeee tell me you know what <b>HAGS</b> means!</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dead silence. So obviously I texted everyone in the zone making sure I've still got my cool. Don't worry, I've still got it. (If you are one of those who doesn't know what HAGS means, please see photo below.)</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: inherit;">Tuesday</b><span style="font-family: inherit;">: Also nothing super cool except to explain the next photo... (sorry I'm officially boring). Sister Tucker and I get really tired from meetings and exchanges all week so we frequently take little napsies at lunch. Well after Sister Nelson eats she gains all sorts of energy and gets a tad immature</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">it's fine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I started this new thing that when Tuckdaddy is either sleeping or praying I take the lamp and shine it right above her face so she thinks she is about to have a miraculous vision... Let me tell ya, she sees that pillar of light, </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">exactly</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> over her head.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Wednesday</b>: Oh man I only have 20 minutes and I'm only to Wednesday! You can blame my momsie for that. ;) Well Wednesday was super fun because we had to go to Menifee to take care of some STL business, but we had no miles to do that. So! We called up my main girl Amy and she spent the whole day with us! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was super fun. Sad though because we tried to stop by all of our investigators houses to get a MPL and we got nothing... It's fine though. </span></div>
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<b style="font-family: inherit;">Thursday</b><span style="font-family: inherit;">: This was a rough day because it was weekly planning. I don't loveee planning for the week because it takes 3 hours and it's really boring. So we decided to take a break and check the mail</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tucker got a package, an envelope and a letter. Nelson got nothin'... It's fine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just a reminder: I'm over here in the <b>HOT</b> sun serving the Lord! And I <b>LOVE</b> getting <b>LOVE</b>!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well Tuckdaddy's mother was kind enough to send all sorts of fun things including silly string. I think you can see where this is going</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tucker has to go to the bathroom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nelson see's the string and get's all giddy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She hides around the corner all excited to scare Tucker. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Get's a little too excited and starts to doubt the funniness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Decides to stay seated at the table with the string underneath. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tucker comes back and is interrupted mid-sentence with a mouth full of nasty. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's fine</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">it was funny.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Friday</b>: We went on exchanges! I went to lake Elsinore to be with Sister Staker and we had so much fun!! She's such a sweetheart. We put someone on date, got all excited, had some laughs, then went back to normal life... Haha "normal life" that'll be the day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Saturday</b>: Now I only have 11 minutes and I really need to send all these photos I'm talking about. We were able to volunteer for the Stake Youth Conference which was the Special Olympics!! It was such a blast. Those athletes are the sweetest spirits. So happy no matter what happened. All we had to do was ask their name with a smile and they were jumping on us telling us we were their best friend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I loved it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Tucker and I were quite emotional the whole time... #sisterproblems </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay so the whole spiritual aspect of my life is missing in this email</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">so sorry. But, just know that we are full time servants of the Lord and we <b>LOVE</b> it. We are coming closer to Christ each day and pray that all of you are too. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mucho grande love,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Sister Nelson<br />(email received April 7, 2014)</span></div>
http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-1319170181692175852014-03-22T21:52:00.002-07:002014-03-25T15:23:47.543-07:00"Could ye not watch with me one hour?"<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So we had multi zones this week which was awesome!! I seriously love President Smart so much!! All sorts of inspiration flowin' out of that man.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhi5bTqfCUzsAOXRcTRWTPCjoPVsycMnAnh4W3d81j686cHmDRzbBxBsxDhejweHm5ecXa10n4rgSEJNyNSaWYSiTGp3wdNt_o3whUZto9UfO0ogcpDA_PvprmylXRN5on16ZJlZVLN4/s1600/RSCN2258%255B1%255D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhi5bTqfCUzsAOXRcTRWTPCjoPVsycMnAnh4W3d81j686cHmDRzbBxBsxDhejweHm5ecXa10n4rgSEJNyNSaWYSiTGp3wdNt_o3whUZto9UfO0ogcpDA_PvprmylXRN5on16ZJlZVLN4/s1600/RSCN2258%255B1%255D.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The Temescal Valley Zone</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Tucker and I got a phone call the night before from the ZL "Brown" Wood and ZL Randell (we are really into referring to missionaries by their titles) and they said that President wanted us to roleplay a bad companionship inventory for multi-zones. Oh and to add more pressure he wanted it to be funny</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm not funny.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Obviously, I am pretty dang nervous to roleplay in front of all of these missionaries and President and Sister Smart, so I decide the best thing to do is to just call out missionaries. We pretty muched just had comp study, but went <b>WAY</b> off on tangents that had absolutely nothing to do with what we were studying. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was pretty funny. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I talked in a British accent (which is funny enough considering I can't), made fun of Sister Anderson and sang a line of the star spangled banner</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">seriously, I can't even believe I am writing all of this</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I am so embarrassing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But, we had a really good training from the APs about teaching the importance of church attendance and the Atonement to our investigators. We broke off and did some roleplays with each other and I used my favorite Atonement scripture, wanna hear?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We sit there and talk about an investigator who didn't come to church and then we are supossed to act as the missionaries and address their concern and get them to comitt to coming to church. So I start out with Matt 26:38-39 which I believe (that could be wrong I don't have my scriptures right this second) is when Christ has His disciples wait for him and then asks Heavenly Father to remove this cup from him</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is lots of pausing, lots of emotion and testifying. We talk about how Christ suffered for all pains and afflictions and we relate it to their lives. Then we go to 3 Nephi 18 and talk about when Christ instituted the scarament and how that is our way to show Him our remembrance and gratitude for His sacrifice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay now here is my favorite part</span>…</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We turn back to Matt 26 and finish the story. I say "<i>Christ went to check on the disciples to see if they were keeping watch as He was suffering for them, for you and for me. Will you read verse 40 to see what happened?"</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Verse 40 says that when Christ goes to check on them He finds them asleep and turns to Peter (my favorite apostle) and says "<i>what, could ye not watch with me one hour?</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I pause, turn to the investigator and say "<i>Christ is asking you the same thing he asked Peter. Will you attend church this Sunday, sacrifice one hour to partake of the sacrament and show Christ your gratitude for His eternal sacrafice he made for you?</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's powerful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Keeping the Sabbath day holy is vital. We must make partaking of the sacrament our top priority. Sports, shopping or even family are never good excuses for not attending Sacrament meeting. May we all strive to come closer to Christ by focusing our week toward that one hour?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am out of time, but love and miss you all. Seriously more than you know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Later Skaters,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Nelson</span></div>
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(email received March 17, 2014)</div>
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http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-79053925738822879132014-03-22T21:22:00.002-07:002014-03-22T21:30:01.934-07:00#throwback<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since Sister Tucker and I are tight and we think we're really funny, we decided to get hashtags trending in the mission. I think it's working, but this week was beyond perfect for hashtags because I was getting thrownback </span>allll<span style="font-family: inherit;"> weeeek long. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh wait. I just realized that I didn't email home last week and that was the email about transfers so in short</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Sister Boden and I were doubled out of the Corona ward</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">-I was transferred to the El Cerrito ward with my homie Sister Tucker (which is still in the Corona stake)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Sister Boden was doubled into a ward that she's alread served in</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Sister Pyper was doubled into the Corona ward</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Sister Anderson stayed, which means the 3 of us are all back in the same stake together.... #cray</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Sister Pack is with Sister Jin in La Sierra</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Oh! and #APWilkinson took #RIPMoser's spot as Assistant to the President</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So this week we started our exchanges. I got Sister Anderson again!! Can you beliebe it?? Haha I am on a roll today</span>…</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyways, I thought that I should probably go with Sister Cho instead of Sister Anderson because I don't want President to think that I just want to hang out with my homies all the time. Plus I love Sister Cho and really wanted to work with her. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So we are going throughout our day trying to visit some part-member families when I get a call from Sister Mason in the ward. She goes "<i>Sister Nelson, what are you doing right now..are you busy?</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I said "<i>We are just going around trying to visit some families, but nothing set in stone, why?</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She replied "<i>Okay I need you at my house in five minutes. Can you be there in five minutes?</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I said "<i>yes!</i>" and she said "<i>okay, bye!</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It all happened so fast. It was so exciting, but I'm not gonna lie, I was a tad nervous....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So I pull up to her house and there was a car parked out side with someone in it, but funny me I wasn't wearing my glasses that day so I could barely tell that it was a man. I parked across the street and was putting up my hair when Sister Mason comes running over and bangs on the window. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I get out of the car and <b>BOTH</b> Brother and Sister Mason said "<i>are you sure you want to go inside?</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I said "<i>What?? Uhhhh yeah...</i>" and they just kept asking me if I was sure which was making me more nervous!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then Brother Mason goes "<i>there is a hint in that car</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was seriously so confused and I couldn't see who was in the car. Next thing I know I am following them across the street and I finally got close enough to see that President McCall was in the car!!!!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I go "<i>Oh yeah. I definetly want to go inside!</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I walk inside and guess who was there? </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">ELDER MCCALL!!!!!!!!!!!</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seriously, it was so fun. I smiled so big and said "</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Uhhhh hi!</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">!" and he goes "</span><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh my gosh</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">NO WAY!</span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;">" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We walked toward eachother and had a real nice handshake. #missionaryproblems</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYP_2QlUHATCE4dpwMA6XJyA5HaA4l6hWNBLZ2UdxvFxfn5pCr035fXSJbj6th6eAtih_-0lfWkPcC0Wgr4rI6J9A-npR5Q0vjcLE_zideHWVdN77_f1bHmYVLu7RtrHilveLaSebsso/s1600/FSCN2214%255B1%255D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYP_2QlUHATCE4dpwMA6XJyA5HaA4l6hWNBLZ2UdxvFxfn5pCr035fXSJbj6th6eAtih_-0lfWkPcC0Wgr4rI6J9A-npR5Q0vjcLE_zideHWVdN77_f1bHmYVLu7RtrHilveLaSebsso/s1600/FSCN2214%255B1%255D.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Elder McCall and Nat <br />(Aaron is a family friend from home that was in Nat's mission when she arrived, but then got transferred to the Redlands mission when her mission split in July. He was on his way home, but was visiting friends in the Riverside mission with his parents, President and Sister McCall.)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKhrR6NLPmGpQvG0VjiiUEzhkvJZ41MaTKJ325lgsp-un9pluHFjAhdg92mHXDTdqYrm_d24mjp5WU8Xzp7enKpcVTrgJlx5ZMvgy20n2XkvMauN68t9_fCowslcN7VKZ7AfdrLqhDvo/s1600/photo-2-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKhrR6NLPmGpQvG0VjiiUEzhkvJZ41MaTKJ325lgsp-un9pluHFjAhdg92mHXDTdqYrm_d24mjp5WU8Xzp7enKpcVTrgJlx5ZMvgy20n2XkvMauN68t9_fCowslcN7VKZ7AfdrLqhDvo/s1600/photo-2-2.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">President McCall, Nat, Sister McCall and Elder McCall</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">OHHHH NOOOO!! I seriously don't know how this happened!! I only have 10 minutes left :(:(:(:( So I have to stop typing or I won't be able to send any pictures home...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Later in the week I was able to go back to<b> EASTVALE!!</b> :) I can't even begin tell you how excited I was! I got to see some of my favorites. #screaming #tears #lovin'</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1bxkONv4RlsgErkNtTP9YoC_9VGJ4pCvB8wTRae2YMcRKK_nQOUcf_AdUdOXJnp-RNnQ_Bmjll9tVaPU1iG1cD6OtQs33DqDfjZohrsiuQ4IAhbyQEzWO5hweBNOp23BM_FycrXGLcg/s1600/DSCN2238%255B1%255D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1bxkONv4RlsgErkNtTP9YoC_9VGJ4pCvB8wTRae2YMcRKK_nQOUcf_AdUdOXJnp-RNnQ_Bmjll9tVaPU1iG1cD6OtQs33DqDfjZohrsiuQ4IAhbyQEzWO5hweBNOp23BM_FycrXGLcg/s1600/DSCN2238%255B1%255D.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"Bodnar clan"</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77PD7Wd6h7Ikgxm9Gvm60W1GRYEPaNIh7MIA1OXCceK8fPA3xLH66PEgNl9TYv7aFiKeuAnv3f-zMBHIuDQAuxhdgSVai06hLa6pPKXZWu67M-JvonXA-pf4b5IpZ0KzZNPocZT3hwR8/s1600/FSCN2244%255B1%255D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77PD7Wd6h7Ikgxm9Gvm60W1GRYEPaNIh7MIA1OXCceK8fPA3xLH66PEgNl9TYv7aFiKeuAnv3f-zMBHIuDQAuxhdgSVai06hLa6pPKXZWu67M-JvonXA-pf4b5IpZ0KzZNPocZT3hwR8/s1600/FSCN2244%255B1%255D.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"Momma Katey"</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEUVJHPsUMWsfvY42xvyyxMO8I6I9J4eATDze8gB9I5HbYlQIztLF4BmxtPWN3JtV66twHlgR5mu8AiuU-s3i7AYg6lDcw6ynSOIAEpm35wUPXchrnd5uVXXoPEMd2Dry40hMX6s0MVI/s1600/IMG_2748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEUVJHPsUMWsfvY42xvyyxMO8I6I9J4eATDze8gB9I5HbYlQIztLF4BmxtPWN3JtV66twHlgR5mu8AiuU-s3i7AYg6lDcw6ynSOIAEpm35wUPXchrnd5uVXXoPEMd2Dry40hMX6s0MVI/s1600/IMG_2748.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">(Editor: I received a text from Katey with this pic saying "I love my baby girl!")</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfZaB4s73kkuJEILKEzxEiuXWzI7T1pNUyo81u9DBXi-sXrublkX8N20vltHWCNV-E1EAJVmqxiDYw048zpG23v23O6TqyPOTgpn1EqWQgy1_FlndD7N_TvYBeRZXTTKNUTcFhwvRNkU/s1600/DSCN2283%255B1%255D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfZaB4s73kkuJEILKEzxEiuXWzI7T1pNUyo81u9DBXi-sXrublkX8N20vltHWCNV-E1EAJVmqxiDYw048zpG23v23O6TqyPOTgpn1EqWQgy1_FlndD7N_TvYBeRZXTTKNUTcFhwvRNkU/s1600/DSCN2283%255B1%255D.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"Me and my girl Sista Niihau"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well I wish that I had time to tell you about all the spiritual expierences of the week... just know that I <b>LOVE</b> being a missionary. I <b>LOVE</b> this gospel. I <b>LOVE</b> my Savior and I <b>LOVE</b> all of you!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Love you longtime,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Nelson</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(email received March 10, 2014)</span></div>
http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-20223989632847243182014-03-22T20:45:00.001-07:002014-03-22T22:42:28.167-07:00Bonus post and pictures<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is a sweet sister in Nat's ward, Sister Clemmer, that texts me on occasion and sends pics of Nat, but this week I received a long email from her and a bunch of photos. Nat was on exchanges with Sister Tucker and they surprised Sister Clemmer with a visit because Sister Tucker had previously served in the ward and was close to Sister Clemmer. They shared a special evening together and Sister Clemmer emailed me and Sister Tucker's mother about it. I won't post the entire email, but here is an excerpt:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">"I know I've told you both a lot, but your daughters are amazing.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">The cream of the crop.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">They are such fantastic missionaries.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Their testimonies resonate with them.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">I love hearing them share gospel messages.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">They are so Christ-centered and their purpose here is so important to them and the rest of us who get to know them.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">I've often thought about the prophet's revelation to change the missionary age.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">What a blessing that is for us all and will be for the whole church and world.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Having sisters in the ward is such a sweet blessing."</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I received this email on Thursday and then Sister Clemmer texted me on Saturday telling me that Nat was getting transferred, but that she was going to be companions with Sister Tucker in a ward still in the same stake! Nat didn't have time to write a formal email this week (or next) but her and Sister Tucker love being companions (still Sister Training Leader) and they have moved back to </span>the<span style="font-family: inherit;"> apartment they shared a transfer ago. (Her address is now current on her blog.)</span></span><br />
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Here are some of the pictures Sister Clemmer sent:<br />
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Below are pics of some special people Nat has written about and had to say goodbye to when she left Corona:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UdNaA_Qd021BsPHAqzlGU7AS9zh2yxL4R7ue9Z-G8yvQ3P_Te0oY-9qqtkHVLHCHDd9QT0HetjKlNrcx0tOWMO4PPmLXNbdjvsmdTowvDZsDgcpcu3ctSrehM4Jr7j_7KPuLTLywzlw/s1600/DSCN2192%255B1%255D-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UdNaA_Qd021BsPHAqzlGU7AS9zh2yxL4R7ue9Z-G8yvQ3P_Te0oY-9qqtkHVLHCHDd9QT0HetjKlNrcx0tOWMO4PPmLXNbdjvsmdTowvDZsDgcpcu3ctSrehM4Jr7j_7KPuLTLywzlw/s1600/DSCN2192%255B1%255D-2.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Brother and Sister McKee with Nat and Sister Boden</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Nat and Sister Clemmer and her delicious cinnamon rolls</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHpz07Bdw-dCQ3XbrIveqagHwq4CnCTfOgrCtiIAJRfTm0qOQz6LnW5yUW9i8MI2Fj_hXZ54KBqo3gKcRENCcrZ72DOdG1WxklcV6quH21bJtYA9vptP8TMiXNfbGfAP7cc_tXF4vv2c/s1600/FSCN2142%255B1%255D-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHpz07Bdw-dCQ3XbrIveqagHwq4CnCTfOgrCtiIAJRfTm0qOQz6LnW5yUW9i8MI2Fj_hXZ54KBqo3gKcRENCcrZ72DOdG1WxklcV6quH21bJtYA9vptP8TMiXNfbGfAP7cc_tXF4vv2c/s1600/FSCN2142%255B1%255D-2.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Johnny McKee, <span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Puna and Wusu</span></span></td></tr>
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(Update for the week of February 24th, 2014)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-78781262742488929222014-03-22T19:32:00.002-07:002014-03-22T22:25:18.921-07:00The bible says we shouldn't covet...<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So transfers are this Saturday. This transfer went by super fast. I'm not excited...at all. I really don't want to leave Corona, but I've been here for 6 months so I know that it's time I go. But, maybe I'll be blessed with one more transfer</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">we'll see. :)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This week was good! I don't really have that much to talk about so sorry if this is a short one, but I should have enough time to send some photos! You're welcome mom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>WE WENT TO THE TEMPLE ON TUESDAY!!!!!</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's always the highlight of the transfer. I love going to the temple. I can't wait until I can go every week. It seriously is the boost I need. I always feel so at home and so grateful for my many blessings, especially this gospel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since we can't have zone activities with the Elders anymore, we also can't go to the temple at the same time as them. Fine by me! Now we get to go with just sisters, but from multiple zones. It was awesome.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was super fun too because one of the members of the El Cerrito ward has a huge 11 person van, so we packed it with the sisters from both zones. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lot's of laughing. Lot's of Cafe Rio. Lot's of love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was also able to go on exchanges with Sister Seiolla. She is from Micronesia and is such a hoot! Seriously all day long we were just laughing our heads off. We were in Jurupa and I can't lie, it made me miss a car. It's crazy how much more you can get done with one. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYY79t1kP3lhdNRvyCD8gh-SIC1785SQObzDq4XMSsDajYs-MJ7FMFpj3MdE9ePpJwNtiI5mIvA2WwQd-X_nnsi1szjG4AWDTwgiQc9jwoKmgy3cGK78se-AM9pnQn2xE0v_hM0RB0MSc/s1600/DSCN2174%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYY79t1kP3lhdNRvyCD8gh-SIC1785SQObzDq4XMSsDajYs-MJ7FMFpj3MdE9ePpJwNtiI5mIvA2WwQd-X_nnsi1szjG4AWDTwgiQc9jwoKmgy3cGK78se-AM9pnQn2xE0v_hM0RB0MSc/s1600/DSCN2174%5B1%5D.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Me and Sister Seiolla</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">SO funny!"</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We taught Ruben multiple times this week because he was on date for <b>YESTERDAY</b>! He didn't make it, but that's okay because he's on date for this Sunday and we are doing everything we can to make sure that that happens. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He is beyond hilarious. He is just one big kid which makes it hard sometimes, but it's totally worth it. This week we taught him the 10 commandments out of Exdous with Brother McKee and boy was that somethin'. He gets sidetracked a lot and has a little bit of a joking temper, so you honestly never know what is going to come out of his mouth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We've been getting on him about his language and guilt tripping him a little bit every time he swears and he is getting much better at it. When we read "Thou shall not take the Lord's name in vain" we said "<i>Ruuuuuben, what do you think that means?</i>" and he said "<i>I know! I know! Im doinggggg itttt!</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A little while later we read about not "bearing false witness against thy neighbor" and Sister Boden made a comment about gossip. And Ruben said (and please forgive me) "<i>Oh yeah I know that one! My mom always taught us not to do that she said if she caught us being mean to someone that she'd beat our a**!" </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Quickly we said <i>"WOAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Ruben, you meant to say butt"</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He says <i>"No that's what she'd say! She wouldn't say butt, she'd say a**, that's how we'd know she was serious".</i> We were laughing a little and tried for a while to help him understand that was not an appropriate word. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then Brother McKee said "<i>So how are you going to explain verse 17?"</i> and we were like "<i>what?</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And he said "<i>I probably wouldn't read the whole...</i>" and Ruben cuts him off and says "<i>Ohhhh! Look!! There it is! It says a** right there!! Thou shall not covet thy neighbors...ox, nor his ass!</i>" He started spanking himself yelling "<i>The bible says we shouldn't covet people's a**!!</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We. Were. Dying. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course, we explained to him that it was referring to a donkey which he took to mean a </span>donkeys<span style="font-family: inherit;"> "behind" and so it was one <b>REALLY</b> funny lesson. It seriously got to the point where Sister Boden was trying to move on and bring the spirit back and I would try my hardest not to think about what he said, but then I'd make eye contact with Brother McKee or something and then start laughing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>BUT, </b>he agreed to keep the commandments and I don't think he'll be checking out anyone's backside so it's a win-win right? :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love Ruben. He's such a sweetheart. I called him "homie" the other day so now he only calls me "homeslice" or "homegirl". He'll be a homie for eternity fo sho.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love being a missionary. Seriously, things get reallyyyyyyyy hard and sometimes I want to scream, but the good wayyyyy outweigh the bad. So many blessings come from giving everything you've got to the Lord. The greatest blessing though is being able to come closer to Christ yourself as you help others do the same.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You don't need to be a full time missionary either. :) Just "remember who you are and what you stand for" in all things that you do. Christ loves <b>ALL</b> of us and died for <b>ALL</b> of us and desires to be with <b>ALL</b> of us again. So, let's help Him out shall we?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love you all so so so much! I pray and think about you often.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Love you longtime,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Nelson</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(email received February 17, 2014)</span></div>
http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-30119485194772706732014-03-22T18:51:00.003-07:002014-03-22T21:37:29.189-07:00"Forbidden fruit makes the best jam"<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You know how some churches have those signs that say the darndest things? We saw one that said that this week. We were dying. I wish I would have taken a picture. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">People crack me up. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I saw a picture on a church sign once that said "Don't read The Book of Mormon that's how they get you"......</span>……<span style="font-family: inherit;">yep, that's true. :)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This week was a life changer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In my email last week I was going to tell you about a girl named Sienna, but I ran out of time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We received a call from one of Brother McKee's sons, Brian, who lives in the Citrus Hills ward. He asked what we were doing the next day because he scheduled an appointment for us. He said that he met a girl in Taco Bell and had testified to her of a few things and asked her if she wanted to meet with the missionaries which she agreed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just open your mouth, that's all I'm sayin'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, unfortunately we had MLC with President the next morning and there was no way to get out of it. :( Sienna doesn't have a cell phone or any way to contact her so rescheduling wasn't an option either. We called Sister Tucker and Sister Young and asked them if they'd be willing to go for us and to make sure they schedule another appointment and put her on date. Not saying that they wouldn't have done that, we were just making sure. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The next night the sisters called and told us about the lesson. They said that it went great!! They got there and met Brian's co-worker who said "<i>I hope that she shows up!</i>" which right as she was saying that Sienna walked in and says "<i>I always show up. I never miss an appointment.</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The sisters said that she is adorable</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">short, tiny 18 year old girl with thick curly hair that's cut like a fro and the sweetest face. They said that she has had a really hard life and is desiring to find some hope. They taught her the Restoration, which she cried through the whole thing and said "<i>I can't remember the last time I cried in front of someone</i>". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">They asked her to be baptized, she agreed and scheduled an appointment with her the following Wednesday, which was this last week. We asked them if they knew where she lived (because that will determine which missionaries teach her) they told us that she said she lives with her cousin behind the lemon trees</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">then Sister Tucker goes "<i>I don't know if that's true though based off of the things she says and the clothes she was wearing, I bet there's a good chance she's homeless".</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I can't even tell you how anxious I was to meet her. We had talked with Brother McKee about her and after hearing some of the details of her life he asked if he could come and said "<i>I want to help her"</i> which Sister Boden and I knew meant "<i>I want to help take care of her</i>". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So <b>FINALLY</b> Wednesday came. We met at 10:30 AM at Taco Bell. Sister Boden and I spent all of companion study roleplaying the lesson. I don't know why, but I was sort of nervous. I knew that this was going to be something.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We ended up leaving the apartment a little late and riding our bikes there fast wasn't really as fast as we thought. So we showed up about 10 minutes late. :( We walked in and Brother McKee was sitting at a table with Brian, his co-worker Tiffany and Sienna. She's adorable. Not what I was picturing when I heard "homeless". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brian had bought her "breakfast" I guess if you call tacos and burritos at 10:30 in the morning breakfast, and then we were ready to start the lesson. I sat closest to her and Sister Boden sat next to me and Brother McKee was behind her. I turned to her and asked her to tell me about herself, which is when Brian and Tiffany excused themselves and it was just the four of us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sienna started telling us about her life. How she was born with FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome) and that she was adopted and never knew her birth parents. Both her and her sister had issues because of things that happened to them, but that it changed her sister into something bad that she couldn't control and could no longer try and parent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She also said her adoptive parents were abusive in every way and that she couldn't handle it anymore and ran away to her cousin's house. But, living with her </span>cousin is also <span style="font-family: inherit;">hard because her cousin is only 20 and can't parent, but has kids. Sienna said all she wants is a mother and family who loves her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now that was the shortest version of what she said and trust me I left out many many awful details. She cried as she spoke and I promise you've never heard anything like it. Or maybe you have on like those crime shows on TV, but never face to face from an 18 year old girl in Corona California.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I cried the whole time she talked. It didn't even phase me that this was all going down in Taco Bell, I was totally zoned in on her. As missionaries, we are told a lot that there are certain people just for you. We sort of look for those people in each area, or at least I do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Eastvale, it was the Edwards family. I promise you I knew them in the premortal world. And I have met a lot of people here in Corona and a lot of them have had an impact on my life, but none of them did I feel like were for me</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">.until I met Sienna. The spirit testified to me as she spoke that she needs me. Or maybe not me, but us. And that I am here in Corona to love her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She finished speaking and I said...(pausing between sentences trying to keep my crying under control) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"Sienna, I have some really good news for you. We love you and we are going to help you. We have a message today that will change your life as long as you are willing to do try. Sienna, Jesus Christ loves you so much. He is mindful of you. He has sent us here to help you feel that. I promise you that as we teach you today and as we continue to meet with you that you will feel of the perfect love He has for you and the strong desire He has for you to return and live with Him and our Father in heaven again.</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We then said a prayer and started to teach and testify of the Atonement. I wish I had more time to go into greater detail of the things we shared. Just know that Christ does live and love us. That He desires for all of us to come unto Him so that He can comfort us and lift the burdens from us. Through Him we can be made whole, but we must have the faith to come to Him and trust in Him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I know that to be true, Sister Boden knows that, Brother Mc Kee knows that and after we taught Sienna, she knew it too. We talked for a little while longer and at the end, with tears streaming down her face she said "<i>I have never felt like this in my whole life. This is the feeling of family that I've been looking for."</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sweet Brother McKee told her that if she ever needed anything, and literally anything food, clothes, transportation, house, etc. to call any of us and we'll help her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We closed with a prayer. Gave lots of hugs and started to walk out. She was next to me when I noticed she was fixed on the Taco Bell menu. I said "<i>Sweetheart, are you hungry?</i>" To which she said "<i>a little</i>" and I said "<i>then let's get you something!!</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I told her she could get anything that she wanted. I had her get some lunch and some dinner to take home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As I was paying, Brother McKee was talking to Sienna and Sister Boden and the next thing I know we are all getting in his car to go shopping. He said we were going to Kohls and I said "<i>I didn't know Kohls has food</i>" and I was quickly informed that we weren't shopping for food, but for clothes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I wish you could have seen her face. She was in heaven I tell you, but my heart broke for her. She hung on me through the whole store like a child to her mother. We went to the changing room with a big pile of clothes. She took off the <b>HUGE</b> sweatshirt she was wearing and I saw what "clothes" she had on. She was wearing a childs t-shirt, tights for pants (and no not leggings, black cut out tights that you'd wear under a dress) and some vans without laces. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She was so cute as she tried on the clothes. She was <b>SUPER</b> grateful and talked about how beautiful she felt the whole time. She came out with a dress on and looked so dang cute, but it was hard to miss all of the scars all over her body. I ended up asking her about them after she made a comment and she said "<i>I've been beat up a lot</i>" and then walked back into the room. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We stopped by a couple more stores. Bought her pants, shirts, shoes and two cutesy church outfits.We threw away the clothes she had on and she walked out of the store with a whole new outfit. It was really neat because I remember when I was little and I would do that, Im pretty sure her face looked similar to mine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We stopped and got lunch and then asked her where we could drop her off. She was super sketchy the whole day about where she lived and asked if we could drop her off at the park. Right before we got there she said "<i>we are meeting tomorrow at 10 AM right?</i>" (We had told her that we wanted to meet with her every day until she is baptized so that we can make sure she's okay and so we can help her.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then she asked "<i>can I leave the rest of these clothes here and get them tomorrow?</i>" Of course, Brother Mc Kee agreed and we dropped her off, said our goodbyes again and drove home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Time is up and the story is longer than you know, but when we went to meet her the next day she didn't show up. We haven't heard or seen her since. We've all drove around trying to find her, but haven't. I don't know what happened to her and I am praying she is okay. Please keep her in your prayers. I know that Heavenly Father loves her and will look out for her, but she needs all of the help she can get.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am so grateful for this opportunity that I have to be a missionary. To feel of the love that our Father in heaven and the Savior have for each one of us. I know that they have a plan for us, and it's the plan of happiness. They desire for all of us to return to Him and it's our responsibility to make sure we do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love and miss you all!!! Happy Valentines Day!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Nelson</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(email received February 10, 2014)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ps. I was able to go on exchanges with my girl Sister Anderson this week and of course we were out walking on the only day that it rained. We were out in the ran for an hour, got sopping wet and so we asked Sister McKee to take us home so we could dry our clothes and warm up. :)</span></div>
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http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-84926797190785977592014-03-22T17:53:00.000-07:002014-03-22T21:37:51.757-07:00You know you're looking at a winner, winner, winner!Dad should probably change his ringtone back to JT's "Winner" considering….<br />
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<b>WE WON!!!!!!!!WAHOO!!!!!!!!SEATOWN BABY!!!!!!!</b></div>
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<br />
In all seriousness, yesterday was officially the hardest Sunday of my entire mission. I was dying <b>ALL</b> day. We had a combined 3rd hour and Brother McKee was sitting behind me so I turned around and said <i>"Soooo, is it okay if we come by around 3, 4, 5, and 6 PM today?"</i><br />
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He laughed and said "<i>It would probably be better if you came around 2:30, 3, 3:30, 4 and 4:30"</i>.<br />
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Obviously, we were kidding…well sort of. I knew that I would be gladly welcomed, but we didn't go. I didn't get anywhere near a TV. But, you better believe that I called Brother McKee, Sister McKee and Johnny McKee trying to find out the final score. <br />
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Lot's of happiness with the result. :)<br />
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Oh and <b>SUPER</b> cool that Golden Tate was rockin' SODO during his Super Bowl press conference!!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"We have the same sweatshirt NBD"</span></td></tr>
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(Editor: SODO is a mens premium sports apparel company that Nat's Dad recently launched.)<br />
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<a href="http://sodoapparel.com/">Click here to go to sodoapparel.com</a><br />
<br />
Back to the life of a missionary…<br />
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We went on two exchanges again which means I didn't get very much sleep.<br />
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We also had lots of meetings which means not very much time to teach or proselyte.<br />
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AND we received a text message from James that said <i>"Idk my mom says she found a place I can get baptized so now Idk what I should do lol"</i><br />
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I don't know why he said "lol" because I didn't find any part of that funny.<br />
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It all means that Satan is working hard over here. He hasn't fully dropped us yet and we aren't dropping him so we'll see what happens this week. We are having the Elders fellowship him by inviting him to play basketball with them so hopefully that will help. It could either be really good or really bad.<br />
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I was emailing my mom and trying to send pictures and then had to switch to a really slow computer so now my time is up…so sorry!!!!<br />
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Love you all longtime!<br />
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XOXO<br />
<br />
Sister Nelson<br />
(email received February 3, 2014)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-64897752390721907272014-03-22T17:10:00.001-07:002014-03-22T17:10:19.497-07:00Coastin' on a dreamOn the 24th I officially hit being out for 9 months (half way!) and it's not my favorite feeling in the world…being on top of the hill. However, since I don't go home until November 4th, I'm just coastin' at the top until I start on the downward slope.<br />
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This week was a "normal" week of missionary work. We kicked it off with exchanges and since we're on a bike (the only STL's on a bike) President was nice enough to give us all the sisters in Corona and only a few outside. Lucky for us, every one of the sisters are in a car which makes it easier to actually exchange.<br />
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We planned on going on two exchanges a week, one with a companionship from Corona and the other from somewhere else.<br />
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The first this week we were with the Temescal Valley sisters. Sisters Graff and Niihau. I love, love, love both of them. It was so fun. I stayed here on a bike with Sister Niihau and we had a blast. She was such a hoot on a bike.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Nat and Sister Niihau</span></td></tr>
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Our area is small, but it isn't the easiest area for biking. Going east to west it's flat, but going north to south it's one huge hill.<br />
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It. Is. A. Killer.<br />
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On our first day, Sister Boden and I were biking to Sister Clemmer's house which is at the top of the hill. It was pretty hard…so hard that Sister Boden had to get off and walk her bike (the thought crossed my mind too, but I'm much too proud…yeah I know I'm working on it).<br />
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Sister Niihau knew that story and so she set a goal to stay on the bike no matter what. Of course, we ended up visiting a less active family that from our house to theirs is one straight hill…nothing but up! It was in the evening so it was cooler, but it was still difficult.<br />
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I kept turning around to see how far back she was, wouldn't be able to see her so I'd sit, wait and pray and then all of the sudden I would see her scooting herself along the curb of the street. Hahaha…she literally did not get off the bike! She said she didn't care how she did it or how long it took just as long as she stayed on the bike…I was so proud of her. :)<br />
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I also went on exchanges with Sister Greenwood in Riverside and we also had fun. It was a pretty hard day because we spent the day finding. We couldn't get any of our lessons to follow through and we couldn't find any members to go with us, but we were able to teach a few drop by lessons and leave some blessings with people on the street.<br />
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Always a good time when you're living the good life.<br />
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We have a new investigator named Ruben (I don't think I've mentioned him yet) and let me tell you, he is a hoot and a half! He's probably in his late 20's, but he has special needs so the bet way to describe him is that he's a big kid. He was a media refer all we received and I am <b>SO</b> glad we did. Never a dull moment with my boy Ruben.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Sister Boden, Ruben and Nat</span></td></tr>
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He talks and talks and talks so sometimes it's hard to teach him, but it's totally worth it. We have to really simplify the lessons, but that just makes it more fun. The first time we talked to him we took Brother McKee (our ward mission leader) with us. Ruben told us about his member friend who has been teaching him about the church and Ruben said "<i>I already know everything, but can't get my friend off my back!</i>"<br />
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So obviously I said "<i>then do you want to be baptized?</i>"<br />
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And Ruben said "<i>yes!</i>"<br />
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So then we started talking about a date. He has come to church three times and we knew that it would take a little longer to teach him so I said "<i>well, what about February 2nd?</i>"<br />
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I am still embarrassed about it now and I can't believe that I made that mistake because I feel like the 2nd is all anyone talks about these days…<br />
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So Ruben replies "<i>Uhhh the <b>SUPERBOWLLLLLL!!</b>"</i><br />
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We were dying. We ended up putting him on date for the 16th. :)<br />
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We have taught him a couple of times, but he doesn't have a phone and his landlord doesn't love us. So we just show up to our "meeting spot" and pray that he does too…which he has every single time without fail.<br />
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This last week was the McKee's anniversary so we asked Sister Behrens if she could come with us. I love the Behrens'! They're such a sweet family…super missionary minded.<br />
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Sister Boden and I show up and Ruben gets there soon after. While we are waiting for Sister Behrens, Ruben says <i>"Hey, I found a phone!"</i><br />
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We were super excited and continued to ask him about it which we soon realized that he literally had just found the phone on his way to meet us. I asked him if I could see it and he pulls out a brand new smart phone! So, we tried to convince Ruben that he needed to return the phone, but he wasn't having it.<br />
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After Sister Behrens shows up we start teaching him about the gospel and Sister Behrens teaches him about repentance and then she says "<i>Ruben, I think that we need to talk about your phone".</i><br />
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He was not a happy camper. For the next <b>HOUR</b>, the three of us were going at it trying to help him understand that he needs to give the phone back. He had lost a few cellphones himself and was keeping it more because he was holding a grudge towards those that didn't give his back. Finally, he said that he'd give it back, but that he was going to ask for a reward and that he wasn't going to tell us when he'd do it.<br />
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We tried everythingggggg. There was lots of "<i>what would Jesus do?</i>" kind of talks and "<i>we're not mad at you, just disappointed</i>" and even some reverse psychology, but <b>NOTHING</b> was working. We could not soften his heart. He just sat there with his head resting on his hand and his eyes closed and he stayed like that for about 10 minutes. <br />
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Sister Boden said <i>"did he just fall asleep on us?"</i><br />
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He remained silent a little while longer then Ruben peaked open his eyes and saw that we were still there. The three of us laughed and said <i>"Yep, we're still here!" </i>:)<br />
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So then we tried bribing him by telling him he could go with Brother McKee in his cool old bug or even with Sister Behrens her her convertible mustang…and still nothing.<br />
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Finally, Sister Behrens slapped a twenty-dollar bill on the table and said <i>"Here! Here is your reward...but, only if you give it back right now!"</i><br />
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Ruben looked at it, started to grin and said<i> "Okay!"</i><br />
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Hahaha we all started cheering and were very excited and then we took him to Verizon so they could scan the phone and contact the owner. Ruben asked the worker to call them right then and wanted them to know he found it, but that he was making sure they got it back. :)<br />
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Sister Behrens was so sweet and told him since she was so proud of him that she would take him through the McDonald's drive through for lunch.<br />
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He was <b>VERY</b> excited!<br />
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Ruben came to church on Sunday and I have to say, I really, really love him. He is so funny and really does want to learn more and get baptized. Can't wait to see what happens this week.<br />
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Love you all!!!!!<br />
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Sister Nelson<br />
(email received January 27, 2014)<br />
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<i><br /></i>http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-8701039009113850822014-01-21T14:28:00.002-08:002014-01-21T16:14:57.463-08:00"My city's flithy"Macklemore has a song about Seattle and he says that line which I only think is appropriate considering our beloved Seahawks are going to the Superbowl baby!!! I don't want to talk about it too much because that's how Satan gets to me and I'll get sad and homesick and what not. <br />
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Oh and one more sports recognition I'd like to make before I leave the topic... My boy KD had 54 points this week!? That's what I'm talking about. <br />
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Well how is it goin over there? Is it nice and cold? I wish I was there. It's getting warmer which I am not happy about, especially if this is preparing us for what it is going to be like all summer…<br />
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No thank you. <br />
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So, I know last weeks letter was ridiculously ridiculous, but it being Martin Luther King Jr Day (power to the people) emailing is crazy, there are people waiting to use the computers and I had to use a different format of Gmail which is weird... so sorry if this is another lame one. <br />
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Well...biking barely happened this week. Both of our bikes needed repairing (thank you Brother McKee) so we were on "foot" until Friday night. I say "foot" because we bummed rides off of everyone. And by everyone I mean mostly the McKee's and the Ludvigson's (senior couple in the ward)…<br />
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I can't tell you how much I appreciate them and love them. It's people like them that change your life. <br />
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So with all of that nonsense, Sister Boden and I were still able to hit standard this week! <b>WAHOO</b>!! Pretty exciting if you ask me. <br />
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It's lookin like another run of baptisms coming up. Yesterday Loralee (I have been spelling her name wrong... whoops) was baptized by Brother Boyes. <br />
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It was the best baptism I have ever been to. Not only were there lots of people, but the spirit was <strong>SO</strong> strong. <br />
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I kid you not <strong>e v e r y o n e</strong> was crying at some point. <br />
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The baptism talks might have been my favorite part. A few weeks ago Brother Boyes pulled me aside before we talked to Lora about her baptism program. He told me to suggest that Sister Boyes give the baptism talk, but in reality, he had a special family member who would actually be doing it. I knew exactly who he was talking about and almost started crying on the spot. <br />
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During the baptism, Brother McKee announced that Sister Boyes would be giving the talk and then Brother Boyes stood up instead. He grabbed his iPad and said "<i>There is actually going to be a change in the program. Sister Boyes won't be giving the talk."</i><br />
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Then he put his iPad on an easel and pressed play. <br />
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I wish you could all have been there because this is not going to do it justice. As soon as he pressed play you heard Lora gasp and grab her face and start crying. Elder Boyes (Tucker is his name, he is best friends with Lora and is the one who introduced her to the church) had videotaped himself giving the talk on baptism. <br />
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It was <b>SOO</b> cool. Lora had no idea, complete surprise (which is my favorite thing ever). He did awesome. It was such a beautiful experience for us all to be there. He taught simply and powerfully and filled the room with the Spirit without even being there.<br />
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I loved it.<br />
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The rest of the baptism was great. Sister Boden and I tried something new that President had recommended we start doing at baptisms. While Lora was changing we taught the Restoration to the audience. <br />
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Now I have probably taught it 100 times, but not like this. We taught it in a little over 5 minutes so it was very simple. <br />
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Sister Boden taught/testified powerfully of Christ and the love that he has for each one of us. <br />
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I was blessed to be able to recite the first vision. I can't tell you how many times I have done that and every time the Spirit testifies to me that Joseph truly did see God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. But this time was different and I think it was for a lot of people there. I was pretty emotional as I said it and I honestly don't think that I have ever felt the Spirit so strong in one setting. <br />
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If there is one thing that I have not one doubt about, it is that Heavenly Father loves every single one of us more than we can imagine. He loves us so much that He Sent His only begotten son to earth to die so that we could become clean and perfect like Him. <br />
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But, He also came to earth to establish the gospel so that we would know the path we need to take to return to live with our Father in heaven once again. <br />
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I know that God does hear and answer our prayers, just as He did to 14 year old Joseph. We may not have the blessing of a vision quite like he did, but we can know for ourselves that He does live and that He leads and guides this church. <br />
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I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the exact same gospel that Christ himself established while He was on earth. I know that is has been restored and will remain on earth until the second coming of the Messiah. <br />
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I extended the invitation to all who were at the baptism and I do the same to all of you, to know for yourselves if these things are true. I promise you, as does Moroni, that if you ponder these things in your hearts and pray with sincere desire to know if they are true that the Holy Ghost will testify that they are. That through the Spirit you will know that Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world and that He is at the head of the church today and leads and guides us through a living prophet of God.<br />
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As a representative of Christ, I testify that these things are true and I do it because I love you and I want you to feel of the happiness this gospel brings. <br />
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I miss you all. <br />
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<b>BIG</b> hugs and little kisses, <br />
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Sister Nelson<br />
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<br />http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-3344387133258233782014-01-13T22:06:00.001-08:002014-01-21T09:03:14.849-08:00Welcome to the biker gang!<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I first came into the mission and President said that Sister Pack was going to be my new companion, she jumped up, ran over to me with arms open wide saying "<i>welcome to the biker gang!</i>" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">That was the first time I found out I was on bike. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Transfers were yesterday and Sister Boden and I are staying! We are <b>SO</b> happy. However, we are getting our car taken away and will be on bikes! Straight crazy. We are also moving to much nicer apartments that are a lot closer to our area which will be nice, but the other sisters aren't moving with us. :( </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This week was another good one! Except, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Boden was really sick. :( None of the missionaries got the flu shot so <b>e v e r y o n e</b> is getting sick. And being sick is not really convenient for missionaries, especially when you're STL's who procrastinate and have 3 nights in a row of exchanges. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We ended up only doing one exchange with Sisters Gowans and Hall in Moreno Valley which was so fun. I was originally supposed to stay in Corona, but since Sister Boden was still sick, I had the </span>privilege<span style="font-family: inherit;"> of going to Moreno Valley. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I loved it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was praying that I'd run into one of the O'Connor's, but I didn't. :( Still praying that I'll "die" there so I can go on splits with Kaitlin and Paige. :) :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Even though Sister Boden was out for half of the week, we were still able to teach 20 lessons which was pretty impressive. I went on splits with a girl named Puna from the ward. I love her so much. She is about to leave for her mission to Houston, Texas - Spanish speaking and she will train in the MTC in Mexico. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She's very excited, but nervous. She's adorable though. She gave her farewell talk on Sunday and the Bishopric asked her mom and me to speak with her! That was fun because of course, we all spoke about missionary work. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was going around greeting people before sacrament meeting and then noticed Bishop making his way up to the </span>stand<span style="font-family: inherit;"> so I decided to grab Puna to head up</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> with me, but I sort of scared her haha. I walked up behind her, squeezed her neck and said with a straight face "<i>it's time."</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Haha she has a good sense of humor. As soon as we sat down she leaned over to me and said "<i>were you always this outgoing or did it come on the mission?</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I said "<i>d</i></span><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">on't worry</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">it comes naturally to missionaries.</span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;">" :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It truly does. I can't wait until I get home and can embarrass mom with all of the strangers I go up and talk to. After talking to at least 10 people on the street every day for 18 months, I imagine that will be a hard habit to break. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love being a missionary. It's seriously the best. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Puna will rock it out there. Her talk was awesome. If you want to hear mine you can just look up Elder Holland's "The First Great Commandment" talk from October 2012 General Conference. I practically just read the whole thing. It's my very favorite.</span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/the-first-great-commandment?lang=eng">Elder Holland - The First Great Commandment (click to read)</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This week Travis and Amy and their two children came to church!! :) I can't remember if I've told you about them (I tried to look it up on my blog, but it looks like it hasn't been updated for a while</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;"> mother.) They were all so cute! They came in all cordinating wearing black and blue. I think it went well. They seemed really happy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We have been working really close with our ward mission leader, Brother Mckee. I love him and his whole family. Seriously, they are the </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">BEST</b><span style="font-family: inherit;">. Friends for life let me tell ya. They are such great examples of Christlike people. I wish you all could meet them. I was going to tell you that we use Brother McKee's sons (Brian and Johnny they're like 38 and 36) </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">ALL</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> the time and we had them visit Travis and Amy, but I'm out of </span>time<span style="font-family: inherit;"> so I'll have to update you next week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So sorry! :(</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Love you all,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Nelson</span></div>
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http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-33912715465166180082014-01-13T19:51:00.000-08:002014-01-13T22:29:48.085-08:00New Year Boo Year (not really)<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ello Mates!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, I feel like it's been one lame week after the next. Not really, but my emails have been getting more and more lame. I think it's the whole transfer stage. The year is/was ending, the transfer is ending (calls are this Saturday) and everyone and their dog is sick so, it's just been rough all around.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am going to try my best to give you a work filled email, but I am going to warn you now... no pictures. So sorry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last week I mentioned how sick I felt, well it only got worse. I was out until Thursday night. We literally stayed in the apartment <b>ALL</b> day</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>ALL</b> night. It. Was. A. Killer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For New Year's Eve we had to be in by 6 PM and then on New Year's Day it's a mission wide deep cleaning day so we can't leave to go out until 1 PM. Since we were <b>ALL</b> sick we were in much longer than that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On New Year's Eve we put together a 1000 piece puzzle (picture coming next week, we are half way done with the second one) and watched tons of movies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mom, have you seen Ephrium's Rescue? It's the sequel or something like that to 17 miracles. We watched it New Year's Eve and I <b>LOVED</b> it. I don't know if it's because I've been on my mission and haven't seen a quality movie in a while, but I seriously loved the whole entire thing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The priesthood has been restored. The church is true.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">New Year's morning we all got up and cleaned as long as we could, but we got pretty dizzy and ended up passing out after a few hours. We are all feeling much better now though! Thank goodness too because an apartement full of sick missionaries who haven't been able to work for a couple of days is no bueno let me tell ya.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Fortunately, we were able to get up and get some work done this weekend! Let me tell you about our investigators...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>LAURA</b>: Well...she is still on for the 19th!! The huge hold up with her was that she had been terrified to talk to her mom. She doesn't need her mom's permission, but since she lives with her and she loves her and wants her approval. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well she finally told her</span>…o<span style="font-family: inherit;">ver text haha. She didn't want to do it that way, but she set a goal of talking to her mom by Sunday and she hadn't been able to sit down and talk with her and it was Saturday night so she had no choice, but to text her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Her mom didn't seem mad at all. She thought that Laura was getting baptized yesterday (and doing it behind her back) so all she said was "<i>I wish you were doing it when I could be there"</i> which was really great because now she can be! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I <b>LOVE</b> Laura. She is so sweet and loves the gospel so much! She bore her testimony on Sunday and was adorable. She did it like a true Mormon, with tears and all. :) Her baptism will be beautiful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>STEPHANIE:</b> Sister Todd actually OYM'd her on my birthday while we were on exchanges. She is really interested and very humble. She is the only one in her house that speaks english so lucky us. :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We left her a harvest blessing and taught her about the spirit and The Book of Mormon and committed her to baptism. She is a little nervous about how fast it all seems, but agreed to the 12th. Well she didn't go to church the next day (the 22nd) so we met with her again, taught her the whole restoration and changed her date to the 26th and told her that we would bring someone to pick her up this week and guess what she agreed to it all and came to church!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We felt bad because during sacrament we promised we would sit with a less active family that is scared to come back to church and then for 2nd hour the teacher of the senior Sunday school class asked me to come in and speak for a little bit about the role of the spirit in missionary work and then we went to ym/yw instead of Relief Society because the yw president asked us to speak on the new theme and how to invite others to come unto Christ! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But, I think it was good because the ward missionaries took care of her which provided solid fellowship. Sister Boden and I aren't going to be here forever right? :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(Side note: </span>yesterday<span style="font-family: inherit;"> when we got to church just about everyone that we wanted to come did! Including less active families/members that haven't been to church in over a year! Pretty cool if you ask me</span>…a<span style="font-family: inherit;">men to the new year!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is a boy in the ward named Wusu (I can't remember if I've talked about him before or not) but he is the best missionary. He walked into church with someone I've never seen before so I hurried over to talk to them. His name is James and he lives next to Wusu and so Wusu invited him to church and he accepted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We didn't get to talk to him much because we were running around a lot, but after church Wusu was running after us saying "<i>stop Sisters!</i>" He was so excited to tell us that James said that he wants to <b>BE BAPTIZED</b> and he gave us his number to contact him!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We called James last night and he had a few questions about baptism. He said that he has been thinking that he needs to be baptized lately and asked what the difference is between our baptism and other Christian faiths. I told him that we are baptized just as Christ was with the priesthood, immersion, covenants and all and he said "<i>well, that all sounds like what I want!</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, we are meeting with him again tonight and hoping to put him on date for the 19th. :) </span></div>
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<b style="font-family: inherit;">GOOD TIMES!</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am out of time, but I love you all so so so much!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Nelson</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(email </span>received<span style="font-family: inherit;"> January 6, 2014)</span></div>
http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-47858275056338001332014-01-13T19:08:00.003-08:002014-01-14T08:17:26.489-08:00Sorry for party rockin'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am sorry for "partying" so hard this week. I woke up really sick yesterday and it's just getting worse. I think I have the flu :(</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This week was good! <b>BUSY</b>, but good. Tuesday was Christmas Eve and the whole mission got together for a big talent show. We did more of a silly one, then they fed us lunch and then had a spiritual talent show.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was a blast and a half! I loved seeing all of my sista friends. :)</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQh_WFqraxf2z1ef6ni-yTsva-kLEP0vu22aOjwCfVNb4euPgsPRrmagc1yy0bJnh4_TkqXWPemK9Iwkxb-r-eOdlm3Olj99GI3yw6IDpVA-ZDoKSJ8R-OhrbpPajliLGFG3SuB7FNiWU/s1600/DSCN2081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQh_WFqraxf2z1ef6ni-yTsva-kLEP0vu22aOjwCfVNb4euPgsPRrmagc1yy0bJnh4_TkqXWPemK9Iwkxb-r-eOdlm3Olj99GI3yw6IDpVA-ZDoKSJ8R-OhrbpPajliLGFG3SuB7FNiWU/s640/DSCN2081.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"Lil Mama"</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBxBRSRyqzVmxW9YRqJexQeuvvRQah6SLrfdrzIaCD9DNHNzuNJ7a7o3ZPB_ey1lC8P4JJB7S8LQ3JI4wjEHRCwVeAKtr6r4zZbUFfj5L9wqUQ3s_0DrZSuoea_PPQDrcckMaeALd4zw/s1600/DSCN2089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBxBRSRyqzVmxW9YRqJexQeuvvRQah6SLrfdrzIaCD9DNHNzuNJ7a7o3ZPB_ey1lC8P4JJB7S8LQ3JI4wjEHRCwVeAKtr6r4zZbUFfj5L9wqUQ3s_0DrZSuoea_PPQDrcckMaeALd4zw/s640/DSCN2089.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Sister Jenkins, Sister Fia and Sister Anderson"</span></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaz8-jwEmCcJqlEm2lgQm0wMnUDN_kXipMfqRny75Hyl1kKDr9bK7xbJXxGo0icqlaEbPdKtvsW1zcE62GwcsGG1QOQP83qgkh-i8ognRpz4IqbQliPR5MENBS2SN3bZh4B_bIsoYen8s/s1600/DSCN2091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaz8-jwEmCcJqlEm2lgQm0wMnUDN_kXipMfqRny75Hyl1kKDr9bK7xbJXxGo0icqlaEbPdKtvsW1zcE62GwcsGG1QOQP83qgkh-i8ognRpz4IqbQliPR5MENBS2SN3bZh4B_bIsoYen8s/s640/DSCN2091.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"Hermana Ruiz"</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7wETXI1VczHbw1chM1Olv1ByXzzOuGg-pwk4nCFaU2kKSqxuolNDeWu1-JCkAhtDWNoktTLXLGqBE3DhyphenhyphenqNnLuNWnpvopT1iTItnxvoDoaaZewMbOwqlwGLuHjUS0YSxAptVbQFQlzY/s1600/DSCN2092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7wETXI1VczHbw1chM1Olv1ByXzzOuGg-pwk4nCFaU2kKSqxuolNDeWu1-JCkAhtDWNoktTLXLGqBE3DhyphenhyphenqNnLuNWnpvopT1iTItnxvoDoaaZewMbOwqlwGLuHjUS0YSxAptVbQFQlzY/s640/DSCN2092.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"Sister Niihau"</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxJLrx0-RYemJU7zFONKUi5301NeSdHWLlmQQ_uLtwCkt66WTTPLzx60nxMVXhfSlDDrcweac5tZdBr29pRpnP3QME5gGnwU0iV_g0BVe43FRlw0hVUF77JZ3RYjFNMv377xOvBZYRcU/s1600/DSCN2094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxJLrx0-RYemJU7zFONKUi5301NeSdHWLlmQQ_uLtwCkt66WTTPLzx60nxMVXhfSlDDrcweac5tZdBr29pRpnP3QME5gGnwU0iV_g0BVe43FRlw0hVUF77JZ3RYjFNMv377xOvBZYRcU/s640/DSCN2094.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"My Jinny Jin"</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFcqDYG5hoj1dr49EmInKVcmShDJTQ_KZ68GSkmcCYd9uJs-IwB-fnq4oaGRh9LLHlZyAARwWLqbaIU1zs4nhZBlnxAUpXAUvIDgCwHwiDsJXM07ymCglIQTEpcF1C_P3cNQ-e1KvqaI/s1600/IMG_2451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFcqDYG5hoj1dr49EmInKVcmShDJTQ_KZ68GSkmcCYd9uJs-IwB-fnq4oaGRh9LLHlZyAARwWLqbaIU1zs4nhZBlnxAUpXAUvIDgCwHwiDsJXM07ymCglIQTEpcF1C_P3cNQ-e1KvqaI/s640/IMG_2451.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">My fav hermanas (minus Hermana Ruiz) Luccion and Oswald"</span></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0iCA5okiUXzhfSDMJ-qRbsWVXBh_VPkn1h0rrnnHHP1GtTG34NiC5ZQnj4neuJi1bHB807HEcLXgiuB2eGoH-TOexrIZ_FoULenUeEEyTpOqUXcoiSX8yYpCPLpvRNf_7dvvM2Vb09s/s1600/DSCN2093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0iCA5okiUXzhfSDMJ-qRbsWVXBh_VPkn1h0rrnnHHP1GtTG34NiC5ZQnj4neuJi1bHB807HEcLXgiuB2eGoH-TOexrIZ_FoULenUeEEyTpOqUXcoiSX8yYpCPLpvRNf_7dvvM2Vb09s/s640/DSCN2093.JPG" width="587" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"Elder Schoonmaker"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We came home and decided </span>we'd all<span style="font-family: inherit;"> sleep in the same room and build a fort :) Yeah it was pretty dang cool. We were having all sorts of fun under there and decided we were going to leave it up until transfers (the 11th) and that lasted a hot second. We took it down the next morning.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_mwNTv5pHSi78Q7nTT1Yt7vG-M3JLhgLCY4dKFbL95rvxpOUT0dq6F2TUq8DWd9jwIX-I558F6feIw2qzuYy0JL3CCVIHM9Dr1tVpEg6TACMRvnOztPvSP6qWP1Kfxh20uHyc1IAYac/s1600/DSCN2106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_mwNTv5pHSi78Q7nTT1Yt7vG-M3JLhgLCY4dKFbL95rvxpOUT0dq6F2TUq8DWd9jwIX-I558F6feIw2qzuYy0JL3CCVIHM9Dr1tVpEg6TACMRvnOztPvSP6qWP1Kfxh20uHyc1IAYac/s640/DSCN2106.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"World's. Greatest. Fort."</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Christmas Day is our only day off which was super exciting because that meant that we got to sleep in! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It didn't happen though. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our bodies are too used to getting up early and so we were all up and laughing by 6:45 AM. So Sister Tucker decided to play Santa and we each opened one present at a time. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8FM6v9GcSiGX4by256OYeYDKj6aluKbmP7cMj3eDcfB4Ax2vsIgEmQvTm1W01bqUIhlcuIPUPVQA_YAhOHKZg7TwziwBDrLk5Krh9VcYfcJb_dW6WFJ2SdQaHcIs8gwmRd4w9D3BX-M/s1600/DSCN2082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8FM6v9GcSiGX4by256OYeYDKj6aluKbmP7cMj3eDcfB4Ax2vsIgEmQvTm1W01bqUIhlcuIPUPVQA_YAhOHKZg7TwziwBDrLk5Krh9VcYfcJb_dW6WFJ2SdQaHcIs8gwmRd4w9D3BX-M/s640/DSCN2082.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"Sister Tucker aka Santa"</span></td></tr>
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For my first Christmas away from home it wasn't too shabby.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first present I opened was the picture frame with the cutesy picture of the family. It was my favorite gift I've <b>EVER</b> received. I was dying over it. So were the other sisters... Thanks mom. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then of course, I <b>LOVED</b> talking to the fam!!!! Seriously, I miss you so much. I could have talked to you all for another 3 hours. Good thing I didn't though because I was a tad homesick after. I'm fine now. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Funny note</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">all of the ward members asked us about calling home and they asked if we only talked for an hour and my reply was always "<i>well, I talked to my mom for an hour!</i>" Love you mom. ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The rest of the week was kind of weird, but we did pick up a new investigator. Her name is Stephanie and she is 23. We left her a harvest blessing and then committed her to be baptized on the 12th and she said yes. She didn't come to church yesterday, so we will have to move that, but I think she'll get baptized the following week. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Laura is still on for the 19th. She's excited and I am too. I love her so much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We went on exchanges which was awesome because I was able to go to spanish land which only made my desire to be switched to spanish even greater... I think I'll mention something to President in my email. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't know if I can write much more. It's making my head hurt worse and I am getting more nauseous. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I hate being sick. It's so annoying. Very inconvienient.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Love you all! I recieved so many Christmas and birthday packages/cards and I am going to try to write you all back today! If you don't hear from me this week I will try to write next week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">With all of my aloha (they say something like that right?)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Nelson</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">PS. President approved 3 movies for us to watch on Christmas, one of them being "It's a Wonderful Life." I had <b>NEVER</b> seen it, but I may have seen it 3 times now... I love me some George Bailey. :) Haha welcome to the life of a sister missionary.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(Email received December 30, 2014)</span></div>
http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-54181105837259466022013-12-24T00:11:00.000-08:002013-12-24T00:22:00.022-08:00Isn't there a Taylor Swift song about being 22?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Editor: yes Nat, there is such a song: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seriously, soooo much to do today and not nearly enough time to do it! I'm going to send a quick email with pics of the highlights from last week...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for all of the Birthday <b>LOVE</b>!!!!!!!! It honestly meant the world to me. Garett and Hill brought tears to my eyes. I love you all so so so much!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On my birthday we were on exchanges with Sister Todd which was fun! :) Brother Mckee paid for a nice dinner for the 3 of us at Taps. I had never heard of it before, but it was really good. We had homemade </span>pretzels<span style="font-family: inherit;">, salads, steak, potatoes and cake!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZr4A4nVum1Xodyi_gFraqNfi4yxf90F08GE3yaynKCHPcCWw1KwGJv4-qWcN3n3COuQBgzVPUlQ6aqLXpblh0gVsPyIB-5o1flNY-ZgViDca1eyqmaA1tZDdH8Y8Mle84OZCUuJUfu8/s1600/DSCN2072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZr4A4nVum1Xodyi_gFraqNfi4yxf90F08GE3yaynKCHPcCWw1KwGJv4-qWcN3n3COuQBgzVPUlQ6aqLXpblh0gVsPyIB-5o1flNY-ZgViDca1eyqmaA1tZDdH8Y8Mle84OZCUuJUfu8/s640/DSCN2072.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Sister Boden, Nat and Sister Todd (Nat's MTC companion)</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: center;">When we were exchanging back that night we were waiting for the sisters to come at the Grand building in Riverside. I had my seat reclined so I could take a little rest while we waited when Sister </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: center;">Boden says "O</span><i style="text-align: center;">h, there are the Hermanas</i><span style="text-align: center;">" </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I sat up so fast and said "<i>which one?!</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She said "<i>Oswald</i>" (remember she was <b>JUST</b> transferred) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I drove over there as fast as I could and parked our car right behind theirs so they couldn't back out and then jumped out and ran over. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As soon as I was out of the car Hermana Oswald jumped out too and needless to say it was quite the embrace. I was <b>SO</b> <b>HAPPY</b> to see her, but it was also special because</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b>WE HAVE THE SAME BIRTHDAY</b>!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We were so bummed when she got transferred because we wouldn't be together on our birthday. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Again</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">tender mercies of the Lord brothers and sisters. :)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_bo6PbC-RqqoWay5oWtezfP47vRBmzeo_7ylFFiTviNuHUWVY8rFXaIcPJb4hzohfQrV3_LcLZuzRj_Ay-DqO8aCJAwS8-TC-yCpUAp44XW-NRSKX1JSjEXFvIDGsd8mXlNMhv0wG7M/s1600/DSCN2074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_bo6PbC-RqqoWay5oWtezfP47vRBmzeo_7ylFFiTviNuHUWVY8rFXaIcPJb4hzohfQrV3_LcLZuzRj_Ay-DqO8aCJAwS8-TC-yCpUAp44XW-NRSKX1JSjEXFvIDGsd8mXlNMhv0wG7M/s640/DSCN2074.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Me and Sister Oswald on our Birthday. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">S</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">he's one of my best friends in the mission. I absolutely adore her."</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was well taken care of on my birthday. Lots of love through post it notes and letters and gifts. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSCjwF2PivFBEovo9k1u_uBaoH9uJKfYH04njL1LSaXufEsxxhe1SkyBbZQoeZsiXlCPjtVqkhbLmONBoZFMfiYnMTt2QXwDVhAxtHKtZRXwjobVFDLjPl8KSUQ2L8ALTnoVHmSxEuUU/s1600/DSCN2078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSCjwF2PivFBEovo9k1u_uBaoH9uJKfYH04njL1LSaXufEsxxhe1SkyBbZQoeZsiXlCPjtVqkhbLmONBoZFMfiYnMTt2QXwDVhAxtHKtZRXwjobVFDLjPl8KSUQ2L8ALTnoVHmSxEuUU/s640/DSCN2078.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"Sister Boden left this for me and then hid 22 sweet notes all over the apartment for me to find"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">BEST </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">surprises was coming home and seeing "we love you Nat Nat" and "Happy Birthday Nat Nat" all over our front door. I was dying. I told Sister Boden there is only one couple who calls me that</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">and what do you know, Hillary and Garrett came and heart attacked me!!!!!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">(Editor: Hillary sent me this pic)</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4pA9GTWW7QwBjN0Cou0wrOGrZ4k-EDz2PMD4Uu88l8ytc9BKKSaoYSfLfQwsKN9ZlyHgDJGGam9sAb3L9EqkEa3brGb98ejlTDtVlVi9rXwEsKZpXxFtTVbBhClNiHoWN2_gX5ZTWUU/s1600/IMG_2387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4pA9GTWW7QwBjN0Cou0wrOGrZ4k-EDz2PMD4Uu88l8ytc9BKKSaoYSfLfQwsKN9ZlyHgDJGGam9sAb3L9EqkEa3brGb98ejlTDtVlVi9rXwEsKZpXxFtTVbBhClNiHoWN2_gX5ZTWUU/s640/IMG_2387.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There were only a few tears. Weird to think that they were here, but I <b>LOVED</b> it :)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuitLS7CAZkuu5VpWruLOaJjmQIETBEKirpXGFG9jkr_CbwIPd0rLA62Ji8hRwIbGXkrl-3BBgP9wcU49Vf9XoyOxpHgItfAyzVxVxoI2wk62_JrN82XuqK6id9m1VknNSKMxtDBNU5PE/s1600/615394_10200237404687883_1364965595_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuitLS7CAZkuu5VpWruLOaJjmQIETBEKirpXGFG9jkr_CbwIPd0rLA62Ji8hRwIbGXkrl-3BBgP9wcU49Vf9XoyOxpHgItfAyzVxVxoI2wk62_JrN82XuqK6id9m1VknNSKMxtDBNU5PE/s640/615394_10200237404687883_1364965595_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">At Garrett and Hillary's wedding reception May 2012 in Rancho Cucamonga, California</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>MERRY CHRISTMASSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL AND TALK TO YOU IN TWO DAYS:):):):):):):):):):):):)</b></span></div>
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Love, </div>
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Sister Nelson</div>
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(email received December 23, 2013)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"Proof that I really did help change the tires last week!"</span></td></tr>
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http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-77843300381785409572013-12-18T09:58:00.000-08:002013-12-18T10:32:40.633-08:00For my thoughts are not your thoughts…Isaiah 55:8-9<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, this whole STL thing is making for </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">CRAZY</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> weeks, but it's a good thing</span>…i<span style="font-family: inherit;">t really is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We went on two exchanges this week. The first was with my <b>VERY</b> <b>BEST FRIEND IN THE MISSION SISTER ANDERSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seriously, I can't even tell you how excited I was! We were so giddy in the car</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">…</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">we just laughed the entire time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I miss her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She's an excellent missionary, but she's in a difficult area so I feel bad for her. She has been trying really hard, but unfortunately, there isn't much support and as a result there's very little work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I left she had a few solid potentials so hopefully there will be some progress. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We spent the whole day trying to find people, went to dinner and then went to the mutual activity. Normally, we wouldn't go to mutual, but the week before Sister Anderson and her companion had taught the young women how to "street contact" and so the leaders wanted our help for the actual activity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For the activity we went to see the lights at Mission Inn. It reminded me of temple square..the whole place was covered in lights and there were tons of people walking around. We went with a <b>HUGE</b> group of youth. I think it was mulitple wards. I don't know. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyway, we ended up caroling all over the place. We would sing a few songs then move to the next spot and as we would move the youth were suppossed to pass out "Joy to the World" DVDs. It was super fun. Sister Anderson and I were singing at the top of our lungs and dancing so of course, I <b>LOVED</b> every minute of it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">No one really wanted to hear our message though. But the youth did pass out lots of DVDs!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvb9Wn7uZLG_5VB_dTBaz-bq6Ymg2OhMTGUYRSlp0RikHe1B6r-MIFmbs5ito2-KiPru3Mt7c9Pi6cyxBTB7RweJJeQBh47sQ0er49cXh7_xAgR0-mOa1MObpMcMf3efM8-mc2Taeoxlw/s1600/PC100397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvb9Wn7uZLG_5VB_dTBaz-bq6Ymg2OhMTGUYRSlp0RikHe1B6r-MIFmbs5ito2-KiPru3Mt7c9Pi6cyxBTB7RweJJeQBh47sQ0er49cXh7_xAgR0-mOa1MObpMcMf3efM8-mc2Taeoxlw/s640/PC100397.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The second exchange I went on was with Sister V. (Her name is spelled super weird, but it's pronounced Vanay so I'm going to call her Sister V for the sake of this story.) Sister V came here to Corona with me and Sister Boden went to Menifee (to be with Sister V's companion) which is a bike area for sisters. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was kind of a weird exchange because Sister V had only been out a week and so she didn't really have any questions or need any help with anything specific because she's new to everything.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Normally I like to role play with them of an investigator that they are struggling with and have them be the investigator so they can get different ideas. Since she didn't have any, I just acted as the missionary and OYM'd her <b>TONS</b> of times. Hopefully, it helped! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Most of the day we were pretty much just trying to get into the homes of our potentials</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">n</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">o luck though let me tell ya. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I thought the holiday season would be easier because people would be home and their hearts would be filled with joy and they'd love nothing more than to have some jolly sister missionaries come and leave them a message about the Savior</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">but that was wishful thinking. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">California is all about the "hustle and bustle". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We did have MCM (missionary correlation meeting) with Brother Mckee (our new ward mission leader, I love him) and that was a solid 2 hours and <b>REALLY</b> good information! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On Wednesday, Sister Boden and I had dinner at Brother Mckee's which is always a good time because there's a lot of teasing...even though all conversation is about missionary work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyways, since he is new to the "job" we decided it would be good to leave a harvesting blessing with him and his wife so they have a better understanding of what we do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I left the blessing and before I did that I told them that they will have names come to their minds of people who are ready for the gospel, so they need to pay close attention to that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I guess the blessing was pretty good (I rarely remember what I say) because they were both crying and Brother McKee said that he was impressed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Mckee didn't have any names come to mind, but Brother Mckee goes "<i>well, I have two names, but I'm not sure I want to tell you.</i>" That's a common response. Elder Ballard hit it right on the head</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">the number one reason members don't share the gospel is fear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But, Brother Mckee and I are pals so I said "<i>Brother Mckee you have to! Those are not your thoughts, they're the Lord's. You must tell me!"</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He laughed and then told us about two of his neighbors. As we were discussing one of them (Carlos and family) he said that he feels like he should go over and invite them to feed us</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(Uh yes, please go do that!!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He was scared, but since we told him we were coming back in a few days, he didn't really have a choice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sooo</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">.we are having dinner with Carlos and his family on Friday!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And the Mckee's are invited too! :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seriously sooo stinkin' cool. We are very, very excited. This doesn't necessarily mean that Carlos is prepared, but I bet someone in that house is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well I better go, so I can include some pics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Happy Holidaysss!!" -Nsync</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Love,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Nelson</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(email received December 16, 2013)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwMmbop6Nrjqo-isAEM8HsMBGbO6vb055sTwzGeKJ8FZj5jU821bQ6ReO4g2cSGUX0e3VrxzGA0zr0Rb4YZpFb57otpW8q0Ww8Py_bk-aJVjUDKQGAQ9XGiJZqTaKDp9keQ1_pa4Efr4/s1600/DSCN2032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwMmbop6Nrjqo-isAEM8HsMBGbO6vb055sTwzGeKJ8FZj5jU821bQ6ReO4g2cSGUX0e3VrxzGA0zr0Rb4YZpFb57otpW8q0Ww8Py_bk-aJVjUDKQGAQ9XGiJZqTaKDp9keQ1_pa4Efr4/s640/DSCN2032.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"I forgot to tell you this week Sister Niihau had <b>TWO</b> flats tires! I helped Elder Wood change them. Yes, I know it doesn't look like I'm helping in this picture, but I promise I made him let me do it" :)</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Gjb1CbtVGz2HzKMnMT4AP1q3rHQfoywcVXCGpsZ1hfuZyxcUMyiLYcYwAr3KgVE2gTpUAxwe5wRbdqIZYfczNkEGIyY6gGs9TCeQ8Jddtt-SVGOapRArjKoZ7d0UOHgIwSJIoo4yYVw/s1600/FSCN2041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Gjb1CbtVGz2HzKMnMT4AP1q3rHQfoywcVXCGpsZ1hfuZyxcUMyiLYcYwAr3KgVE2gTpUAxwe5wRbdqIZYfczNkEGIyY6gGs9TCeQ8Jddtt-SVGOapRArjKoZ7d0UOHgIwSJIoo4yYVw/s640/FSCN2041.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"Christmas Party with my girl Amy Saunders, Sister Jenskins and Sister Boden"</span></td></tr>
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http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-90478123065650966082013-12-15T17:04:00.000-08:002013-12-15T21:40:19.859-08:00Challenge Accepted<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay party people,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I feel like I say this every week, but there isn't much to write about this week. I miss my Eastvale days</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">those were good times.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So this was my first week as an STL, which was also the first week of the transfer and the beginning of the month which means </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">LOTS</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> of meetings for leadership. We seriously had 3 full days of meetings. So the work is beyond slow right now, but Sister Boden and I are determined to work really hard. We are praying and fasting like crazy over </span>here, but w<span style="font-family: inherit;">e need all the help we can get... hint hint ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since Monday is P-Day, we moved into the Elders apartment. It smelled <b>SO</b> bad I can't even begin to describe it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hermana Oswald and I walked in and the front room is the living room/kitchen area however, the Elders had made it into a bedroom. There was a huge bunkbed and two desks as soon as you walk in and obviously that was not going to fly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We have one bathroom, which also came with all sorts of problems, and then two bedrooms in the back. In the smaller room there were two twin beds (that's serioulsy all it could fit) and the bigger room had 2 desks, 4 dressers and a huge closet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seriously, Elders have no common sense sometimes (sorry if you're reading this Elder Snyder, but you know I'm right).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So if you know me, you know that I like to think that I'm pretty handy, which I am</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">just ask my mom or Pal (Mallory). They'll tell you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So I look at Hermana Oswald and say "<i>No, no, no</i></span><i>…</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>this is not okay.</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We both start to grin and she says "<i>let's do this".</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We started with the bunkbeds. We took the top one off so they were separate beds (they're not light btw) and we tried to shimmy one down the hallway. We seriously tried every angle we could think of, but it was a tiny hallway and a really big bed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We may or may not have scrapped off some paint and took out some corners. But, we were determined to get them in the back. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The other sisters with us told us "<i>it's impossible, they just won't fit</i>". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Elders even said the same thing. Which was just what I needed</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">some Elders saying there is no way to get them back there (especially since they couldn't)</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">challenge accepted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hermana Oswald and I just kept yelling "<i>No! We are going to get this back there. We have the faith!</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Longgg story short (seriously it took 2 hours) we got them back there. We ended up borrowing tools from our neighbor, taking them apart and putting them back together. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the most humble way I can say this, it was impressive. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So now we are working on making it all nice and cozy. We have 5 different airfresheners in there so it isn't too bad. I honestly love living in an apartment. Some <b>REALLY</b> good times. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tuesday was the trainer/trainee meeting. I <b>LOVE</b> seeing the new greenies. They are so precious. We as STL's have the privilage of welcoming them in and giving all the new sisters their driving tests. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So we walk in and my dear friend Elder Snyder was sitting on the couch! I was so excited. He was going home that day and so I literally got to see him right before he left. Tender mercies of the Lord. He was one of the Chinese elders I served with in Eastvale. I look up to him a lot as a missionary. I learned soooo much from him. He's great. (Don't freak out. I'm not in love with him. Just a dear mission friend :) )</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-1o8TuZXjxYaZ_kWtN10GmCwiBsnpW4pH6MPMGjxEZmHbPBEgzv9IJmNj3masrrpo_xZgzVDkMbr-fwldvP-o9fwRsouJSsrp3EckafTIfV79g59TwAlS3hgLAvVrFiU9o18ZNhXqSk/s1600/DSCN0410%5B1%5D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-1o8TuZXjxYaZ_kWtN10GmCwiBsnpW4pH6MPMGjxEZmHbPBEgzv9IJmNj3masrrpo_xZgzVDkMbr-fwldvP-o9fwRsouJSsrp3EckafTIfV79g59TwAlS3hgLAvVrFiU9o18ZNhXqSk/s640/DSCN0410%5B1%5D.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Nat and Elder Snyder</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The rest of the week was full of leadership training and trying to find investigators. Sister Boden and I are trying so So <b>SO</b> hard to find. We literally have no one, but we do have tons of potentials! We have been trying to visit at least 10 families a day. Just about zero success, but we did have one really exciting miracle...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When the Elders left they gave us a list of all of the less active members they visited and notes about how it went. One of them was Brother Ham. The note said something along the lines of "<i>Such a cool guy! Is trying to bring himself out of inactivity. Loves to have missionary visits.</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Boden and I were so excited to meet him. The fact that he is bringing <b>HIMSELF</b> out of inactivity is huge. We prayed before we went in and in the prayer we called down angels to prepare and soften his heart. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So we knocked on his door and he answered (a miracle in itself let me tell ya) and he was happy to see us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We asked if we could come in and visit with him and he said "<i>I can't right now because my wife isn't home, but I'd love to have you over. Let me talk to my wife (non member) and I will tell you a time you can come over on Sunday. I am planning on being at church, but I know my wife is interested!</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seriously so exciting! He didn't come to church though as far as we could tell. We tried to visit him and call him after church and we got nothing. :( Not giving up though. Angels are preparing him for sure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well I am out of time, but I love you all so very very much. I seriously think about you all the time. Everyone. Even those who think I have forgotten them, I promise I haven't, be patient with me. ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">xoxo</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Nelson</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(email received December 9, 2013)</span></div>
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http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-31594306931309085682013-12-15T16:07:00.001-08:002013-12-15T16:36:45.415-08:00Farkle Anyone?<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay, okay. Transfer calls were on Saturday. It was around 9 PM when President called. I answered the phone and he said "<i>Sister Nelson, I have a new assignment for you. I want to call you to be a Sister Training Leader!</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He was driving so it was hard for me to hear so my reply was "<i>I'm sorry, what did you just say?</i>" He laughed and said "<i>I'm calling you to be a Sister Training Leader in Corona. You'll be great!</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I replied and said "<i>Okay President, I can do that</i>."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Really, my heart sank. I honestly didn't see it coming. He continued to tell me about meetings and things and not only was it hard to hear, but my mind was going a million miles a minute so I couldn't tell you anything he said after that except that my companion was going to be Sister Boden! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was in the same zone as her in Jurupa and I have been on exchanges with her before. She is a </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">VERY</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b>GOOD</b> missionary. Extremely hard working and exactly obedient. I can't lie, I'm a little intimidated, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but I think it will be good. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are moving to an apartment with two other sisters which will be really nice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are a few sad things about this transfer</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The zone split and all my sistas are leaving me. Sister Oswald is being transfered to Riverside and she will be training which also means she will be doubled in (when both missionarys are new to the area). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Jin is going to La Sierra, also being doubled in with Sister Allen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Bateman is also an STL, but will be serving in Norco with Sister Busk (<b>SUPER</b> jealous, I adore Sister Busk) and Sister Niihau is staying, but in the other zone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just about <b>EVERY</b> companionship got switched around in some way. A few missionaries were endzoned (they are staying in the zone but moving wards) which I am really grateful I am not doing because that would be hard. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have the same District Leaders, but new Zone Leaders...Elder Wilkinson and Elder Johns (I don't know Elder Johns, but here good things) so I'm excited. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Corona is <b>STACKED</b> with missionaries right now. I think this transfer will be a good one. Lots of miracles are </span>comin'. :)</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This week was a little weird. Thanksgiving was right in the middle which is practically a "day off" for missionaries. I say it in quotations because we still had to get all of our OYMs in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanksgiving wasn't as hard as I thought that it would be. We ate at Sister Charlot's house (she is Samoan and her husband is black, non member) and they had a <b>TON</b> of people over. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The food was good</span>…a<span style="font-family: inherit;"> little cold, but people were sitting around everywhere so it felt more like a party than a holiday. There was a member family (the Coy's) who we ended up sitting next to and talking to the whole time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After we were done eating Sister Coy says "<i>Sister Nelson, have you ever played F</i></span><i style="font-family: inherit;">arkle?</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I </span>can't tell<span style="font-family: inherit;"> you how happy I was to hear that dumb word. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I said "<i><b>YES</b>! My grandma loves that game. I've played it <b>A</b> <b>LOT</b>!</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She was quite excited and said that her family has been playing it and so she brought it in case anyone was interested. We played for 2 hours. It was really fun. That's probably when I missed the family the most. It was just like when we play Monopoly or Scrabble or Presidents. Okay maybe not as intense because nothing was wagered, but you get the point. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I do miss playing the same game 100 times with everyone. Goodness, new topic. Getting a little trunkie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another exciting thing that happened this week , which I can't believe I haven't mentioned yet... <b>I WENT ON EXCHANGES WITH PACKIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! </b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip53NQRRp4Dp3bC46ZaSKBNeSx3NSA43_-Dej01G-JhHYMBZYGEc3vA4GFWvjZYOLyNVwbR5sSBYeXk_TlSo9dV_nbTcFRfw8gUdiImzm6LJcELbuhoWgft8MCMIExhnevR9Xl5jun5CM/s1600/DSC01863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip53NQRRp4Dp3bC46ZaSKBNeSx3NSA43_-Dej01G-JhHYMBZYGEc3vA4GFWvjZYOLyNVwbR5sSBYeXk_TlSo9dV_nbTcFRfw8gUdiImzm6LJcELbuhoWgft8MCMIExhnevR9Xl5jun5CM/s640/DSC01863.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"This is what exchanges look like with Packie!"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was seriously a blast and a half. I was able to go to Hemet with her and we seriously laughed our whole way through. The night I arrived, we may or may not have stayed up until 12:30 AM catching up (there was no getting around it</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">no matter what, there was going to be a little </span>disobedience).<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We were together on Wednesday so </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">EVERYONE</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> canceled on us. We still taught a couple lessons, but mostly we just tried to visit people in the ward, which really just lead to lots of talking and singing and jokes and memories</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">a fun time was had by all let me tell ya. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love and miss you all so very much! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Happy Holidays!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Nelson</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ps. I told Sister Jin that we are only listening to Christmas music from now until New Years (hopefully Sister Boden will be okay with that). So we've been listening to all of the favorites...N'sync, Jackson 5, Kenny G and Glee</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">.don't judge me, it's actually a good one! They sing just about every Christmas song. I'm loving it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(email received December 2, 2013)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZP6s7XHXd4DXwBvfc_g3nQk94yBG9Ht__6GapbQ3eSyGWsAdlpguz0UF_Yj_xBS5LnJ2z8KVAND1Kwa_BVORZKq8TLwKYGKUJAM-04L3rIDH3ymu43emQ2uF-p75i_oDiUSNUJj_ScbU/s1600/DSCN2001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZP6s7XHXd4DXwBvfc_g3nQk94yBG9Ht__6GapbQ3eSyGWsAdlpguz0UF_Yj_xBS5LnJ2z8KVAND1Kwa_BVORZKq8TLwKYGKUJAM-04L3rIDH3ymu43emQ2uF-p75i_oDiUSNUJj_ScbU/s400/DSCN2001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Hermana Oswald and I at the temple</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">I LOVE her!"<br /></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBD5O5vOKzdXx0E1Hgmh0-Gt3wPJYJno-SfX_8zkSd9FNiXd0nq8BmxYIVKD9E7Fi5tKmL8bauXGFCBqX9I8eRIH-fdxqNohPmYtWmkrccr2szn-kPGUHfEwBOK0ITH0DlXbuplLQFKK4/s1600/DSCN2008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBD5O5vOKzdXx0E1Hgmh0-Gt3wPJYJno-SfX_8zkSd9FNiXd0nq8BmxYIVKD9E7Fi5tKmL8bauXGFCBqX9I8eRIH-fdxqNohPmYtWmkrccr2szn-kPGUHfEwBOK0ITH0DlXbuplLQFKK4/s400/DSCN2008.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"Look who I ran into at the temple! She took me and 5 other sisters out to lunch at Cafe Rio. <br />It was SO fun seeing her."<br />(Kathy is the mom of Kaitlin and Paige, Natalie's friends who are both serving missions in Italy.)</span><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_QNBCnrEXHbjimxeyBm29kc0KAOKLrVG6EPbf6S0I2_sotgzJADtvwyBqY4bayNvqMK2t837h82VJnNefuMH5wUZqbCP6kEcF7npxeEk-WJq4GZDkvALh5NkIzFS34jEsOO7IA2yJog/s1600/DSCN2022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_QNBCnrEXHbjimxeyBm29kc0KAOKLrVG6EPbf6S0I2_sotgzJADtvwyBqY4bayNvqMK2t837h82VJnNefuMH5wUZqbCP6kEcF7npxeEk-WJq4GZDkvALh5NkIzFS34jEsOO7IA2yJog/s400/DSCN2022.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"We babysat Max while the Boyes were out of town. <br />He just wanted to cuddle while I read Katlin and Paige's blog posts."</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IPksWc9G_SN3ueegim7KRMckTemf07WRpRye7a7UeTVaHM9bbOZElJvXYyuNe2qxb_IRmbebw_jN_uRlf3zmoUXGskvyraknYE6qvKSqVe493YU00hidUL4jFlHEs7XvNcldfFFmCqc/s1600/DSCN2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IPksWc9G_SN3ueegim7KRMckTemf07WRpRye7a7UeTVaHM9bbOZElJvXYyuNe2qxb_IRmbebw_jN_uRlf3zmoUXGskvyraknYE6qvKSqVe493YU00hidUL4jFlHEs7XvNcldfFFmCqc/s400/DSCN2010.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"I sort of love him which is weird because he's a skeleton yappy chiwawa, <br />but he was like my child for a weekend... I can't believe i just said that."</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72VKmOvgL2ShHXhnM3OHAE6R4CnJOpURZJgzMYmLkHXVhhlWgfR0BlliitbFUtulWhRVNXRzol7mIj0iX06h1gduVMCeacwlngEdGR6ZDLeQBOQZw65BsYuam6zsxJ9ljjFEEeJk7amY/s1600/DSCN2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72VKmOvgL2ShHXhnM3OHAE6R4CnJOpURZJgzMYmLkHXVhhlWgfR0BlliitbFUtulWhRVNXRzol7mIj0iX06h1gduVMCeacwlngEdGR6ZDLeQBOQZw65BsYuam6zsxJ9ljjFEEeJk7amY/s400/DSCN2015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvO7hrA85hlVTtkBxrpr18hG2eNpYii9JOV9lklJdN1wHJVYc0o5pPW6R0jlvY5OF1V4h9VRzh4aAcrpMaTAJit0wAn1JhhbnWkce-lJYRlWJ1jr9__9yl0Feo3u9lgyWlviPmsqjMlw/s1600/DSCN2028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvO7hrA85hlVTtkBxrpr18hG2eNpYii9JOV9lklJdN1wHJVYc0o5pPW6R0jlvY5OF1V4h9VRzh4aAcrpMaTAJit0wAn1JhhbnWkce-lJYRlWJ1jr9__9yl0Feo3u9lgyWlviPmsqjMlw/s400/DSCN2028.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"OH CHRISTMAS TREE! OH CHRISTMAS TREE!! <br />We were able to help Sister Clemmer with her Christmas tree. <br />It was VERY tricky, but we figured it out.<br /> It's the most wonderful time of the year :)"</span></span></td></tr>
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http://www.blogger.com/profile/04931449899081286665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498919683029921001.post-49743002470177722662013-11-18T21:23:00.000-08:002013-11-20T21:41:45.110-08:00You are called to do this work...go out and do it!<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay my people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I only have 45 minutes and a lot has happened since I didn't email last week</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">sorry about that. <span style="font-size: x-small;">[Editor's note: I was able to talk to Nat live through email last week which is why she didn't send a formal letter home.]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I think this week I will just give you a bullet point update and then maybe some of my thoughts as of late... </span></div>
<ul style="background-color: white;">
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Elizabeth was baptized!! It was awesome. It was a <b>HUGE</b> Tongan baptism so of course, I loved every minute of it. :) She is so special to me. I seriously love her and her family so much! Once every month we have a meeting with the stake leadership and all of the missionaries in the stake on how we can better serve the ward. At the end they always have a "special guest" (recent convert) come and bear their testimony. Well this week they asked Elizabeth! It was incredible. Multiple people came up to me afterwards and said how great she is. Love her.</span></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvo0wi37NaGBdSp2RVbwbTQsVj2RMLllz9_ToIIDhrUzK7eaJec4DJDLpgr3x1Q_KZ_078mK3YjxwyQ3AQeXNZ98-NHLVZKSSuIxZfqMTJ3C9O4MVYWslyevk4g7LNidxHzJlovZJdCLg/s1600/FSCN1982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvo0wi37NaGBdSp2RVbwbTQsVj2RMLllz9_ToIIDhrUzK7eaJec4DJDLpgr3x1Q_KZ_078mK3YjxwyQ3AQeXNZ98-NHLVZKSSuIxZfqMTJ3C9O4MVYWslyevk4g7LNidxHzJlovZJdCLg/s640/FSCN1982.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Nat, Elizabeth and Sister Jin</span></td></tr>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Niihau had to go to the dentist to get a tooth pulled and I was lucky enough to go on exchanges and go with her...I <b>LOVED</b> it! :D It was seriously so fun for me to look in her mouth and take care of her and explain what the doctor/assistant said. I took some photos, but I didn't send them because I didn't think everyone would love them as much as I do.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">We had interviews with President Smart! I love him and every opportunity I have to talk to him. He told me how he met Elder Bussey!!! <span style="font-size: x-small;">[Editor's note: Elder Bussey is an area seventy </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">that</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> was our former Bishop and Stake President and very dear to our family.] </span>I was so excited</span>…h<span style="font-family: inherit;">e was too. President said it was really fun to talk to Elder Bussey about me and then be able tell me about it. :)</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">We also had another "Sister Gathering Meeting" so I was able to see all of my best girls!!!! :):) Gosh I love being a missionary.</span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ilCRqLYy_-W7EVNiJbdWrV9GTiBDuAdGKQd1cFEhd1ibhYth6yLVzDZpgV-ilYmlc9Gn-ifb2fN4yFXcbj98sL3NPh574bOSZSajWxYyEx0rTHMX2hPSMPI5rsNnGSpeO5DS8fw_9_Y/s1600/IMG_0091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ilCRqLYy_-W7EVNiJbdWrV9GTiBDuAdGKQd1cFEhd1ibhYth6yLVzDZpgV-ilYmlc9Gn-ifb2fN4yFXcbj98sL3NPh574bOSZSajWxYyEx0rTHMX2hPSMPI5rsNnGSpeO5DS8fw_9_Y/s640/IMG_0091.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"When President and Sister Smart arrived there were 12 sister missionaries and now there are 64!"</span></td></tr>
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<ul style="background-color: white;">
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Courtney was baptized yesterday!!! It was so sweet. Her Grandpa flew in from Oregon to baptize her and he was <b>SO</b> excited. The room was full of youth which was great. Youth from the ward gave the talks and performed a musical number. Courtney had a huge smile on her face the whole time. :)</span></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJ5ECDdKg8khzsKSSMfPTCM4_hLDk9j4gh3qKdfwtM8MwMfj7aoBTdft8SuusgEgyr-XhphoFMrlURRQwBho-gbpnmElo3DjUqJwO-otdUayMzNndzu80mNHEz3B3A79ZhtWI2aIjgm4/s1600/RSCN1997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJ5ECDdKg8khzsKSSMfPTCM4_hLDk9j4gh3qKdfwtM8MwMfj7aoBTdft8SuusgEgyr-XhphoFMrlURRQwBho-gbpnmElo3DjUqJwO-otdUayMzNndzu80mNHEz3B3A79ZhtWI2aIjgm4/s640/RSCN1997.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Sister Jin, Courtney and Nat</span></td></tr>
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<ul style="background-color: white;">
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">We also found out (through searching with Bishop, President and eventually Salt Lake) that Courtney's mother, Lisa, is <b>NOT</b> a member of the church. She thought she was baptized, but the church has no record of it so we are hoping that we will get to experience that soon. :)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white;">
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">And the most exciting news....<b>WE ARE GOING TO THE TEMPLE TOMORROW</b>!!!!!!!!! I am seriously so, so, so excited. I love the temple so stinking much. It will be perfect.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am sure there are more things to update you on, but I honestly can't think of them right now. We've been so busy it's insane.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">At the very end of the Sister Gathering Meeting, President got up and had a Q/A (which he does after every meeting) so we could ask him anything we wanted about any aspect of the work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first question was something along the lines of "<i>How can we work successfully with the ward? We have been trying so hard, but we just can't seem to motivate them to share the gospel.</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This question is quite common among missionaries, but lately I think I found the key. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">President said "<i>Well sisters, what do you think?</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A couple sisters got up and talked about obedience, harvesting blessing and different ways to do spiritual thoughts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As I was sitting there listening, I believe I received inspiration on how missionaries can best work with ward members. Obviously more "ward members" will be reading this than full-time missionaries, but I think it can help all of us...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I think there are three things missionaries <b>MUST</b> do to successfully unify themselves with the ward:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. We must <b>LOVE</b> the ward. That can be tricky to do especially when you feel like they don't care, but when we love them and serve them, they have a much stronger desire to help and trust us with their friends and family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. We must be <b>CREATIVE</b>. E</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">ach investigator is different and so is each ward. We cannot approach the ward the same way we did with other wards and expect the same result. It won't work. We must go above and beyond to get them excited. For example "missionary week" was shot down while I was in Eastvale, but here we did it and are now seeing baptisms every week. We relied on the Lord and on each other. The majority of our investigators now come from member referrals, which everyone knows is ideal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3. We must use <b>ALL</b> of the ward. Relief Society, Elders Quorum, High Priest Group, the youth, Primary...everyone. Heavenly Father needs every member to help His children come back to Him. People are not only being prepared for missionaries...they are being prepared for ward members too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One last point on missionary work...(I just received the 5 minute warning)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Missionary work is not </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">TELLING</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> people about the gospel</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">it is </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">INVITING</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> them to do something where they will be able to feel the spirit. It's really quite simple. Yes, we want to invite them to church and to read the Book of Mormon, but it can also be as simple as inviting them to your home. We take our spiritually filled homes for granted. I promise you a simple invitation can change lives</span>…<span style="font-family: inherit;">.just ask Laurel. :)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdx2aWnOlc1KtDFLOIIdBzasliBXshMoSr7ysdeppZAl6Vu6dV28MK9K2_ZkwkuKFPeVWqsnFtLSt7g-VUbzCP9Q54jL5WsleQrIVrfyAcRIHw3R-WVdRWOzkctcL-FCmskySBeJ3IOJc/s1600/IMG_0711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdx2aWnOlc1KtDFLOIIdBzasliBXshMoSr7ysdeppZAl6Vu6dV28MK9K2_ZkwkuKFPeVWqsnFtLSt7g-VUbzCP9Q54jL5WsleQrIVrfyAcRIHw3R-WVdRWOzkctcL-FCmskySBeJ3IOJc/s640/IMG_0711.jpg" width="618" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Laurel was first introduced to the church when Nat invited her to attend Seminary. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">She ended up taking the discussions in our home and was baptized the summer </span><span style="font-size: small;">before </span><span style="font-size: small;">their </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">senior year of High School. She's AMAZING and we LOVE her!</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love you all. You are all called to this work, go out and do it!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Peace and blessings,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Nelson</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKx8zXRIhqTXdTeURUgXMPwnAaobwUV1fNhAXKsBAFYWE9mqi3uUjhjk-Kkwb5U-HyEwO5kXcgFvTa9-AE5FhOEGyd6G0WvvOiiYtg308WM2UxEB0RW27E-FD5XI4AaeeSoh24CjvXMk/s1600/DSCN1948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKx8zXRIhqTXdTeURUgXMPwnAaobwUV1fNhAXKsBAFYWE9mqi3uUjhjk-Kkwb5U-HyEwO5kXcgFvTa9-AE5FhOEGyd6G0WvvOiiYtg308WM2UxEB0RW27E-FD5XI4AaeeSoh24CjvXMk/s640/DSCN1948.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"Eli's package was PERFECT…I LOVED everything about it!"</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCg6rQ4WDvk-wgNgjnTAtUp9kr1s9s2H3LI6EFUqdl2RTuKkm5gDP9cB8rtfCbmQd0h_ZuRKW8w0uaQjIBevoIqqqpXO8gXtMoo8t1kCPst2Wfxucy8rLggUSzPoqxvetOkl_VTX4gvk/s1600/DSCN1952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCg6rQ4WDvk-wgNgjnTAtUp9kr1s9s2H3LI6EFUqdl2RTuKkm5gDP9cB8rtfCbmQd0h_ZuRKW8w0uaQjIBevoIqqqpXO8gXtMoo8t1kCPst2Wfxucy8rLggUSzPoqxvetOkl_VTX4gvk/s640/DSCN1952.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"Doesn't Jinny's hair look cute?"</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-HQFlPJGHv-WoH9aazAHcgmu6nkvTTPORTTZ4huWMMN6l43i4JehH1JbHNmu7ru08g3pkxfa_5fIg8vc9TK3B2sGIZgcIYowGCj13Ibcwwtqp6KHht4Raa5VRoYb2xjWKwnTpmoeaEs/s1600/DSCN1996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-HQFlPJGHv-WoH9aazAHcgmu6nkvTTPORTTZ4huWMMN6l43i4JehH1JbHNmu7ru08g3pkxfa_5fIg8vc9TK3B2sGIZgcIYowGCj13Ibcwwtqp6KHht4Raa5VRoYb2xjWKwnTpmoeaEs/s640/DSCN1996.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Sister Jin is always laying in my bed because she says it's more comfy than hers, but really I just actually make my bed." :)</span></span></td></tr>
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