Week 12!

Hello Family, Well another cold week has passed by in which I froze again. haha. I can't believe how much cold is not my friend. Thanks dad for the update on weather. I am glad to know it is never as cold as Buffalo. I think I can handle that. Luckily the Lord is very merciful and is making my body adjust. I may also try to go outside with less clothing on so that I will adjust...thus far it is working. I am not sick. I usually get some allergies in the morning, but last week we deep cleaned our apartment so it is not as bad. Thank you for your continued prayers, I sure can feel them. As a missionary, you learn quickly how powerful prayer can be when done correctly. It changes lives. Prayer changes me. My desires truly change as I pray for the hand of the Lord in my life. I can honestly say that my prayers are much more meaningful than they used to be. I feel help me throughout the day. Yesterday was a powerful experience for me. Church is such a time to grow and be nurtured by the word of God. In Moroni 6:4-6 it talks about that a lot. I know it is true. I know the spirit that comes as you humbly submit your will to Heavenly Fathers and fill your heart with gratitude for the tender mercies he gives you. Truly, when I do that, the spirit cleanses me. I am so appreciative of Church. Mother, you asked about p-day. On p-day you shop, you clean your apartment, you do laundry, you exercise, study, and write letters. Today we are going to Golden Corral as a zone and afterwards we are going to a two hour question answer with President Fenn. As much as I enjoy these, I have no questions for him. My questions are normally answered through prayer, scripture study, and pondering. I enjoy Gospel discussions, but so often in these people ask questions that truly do not need to be answered. They are mostly speculation with no real doctrinal background. President Fenn, usually doesn't answer those ones, but still the questions are not really important as missionaries. Truthfully, deep doctrine is not necessary for salvation, and I am on a mission to save. However, I will enjoy listening to any spiritual lessons president Fenn decides to teach us. I heard last time he talked about the second coming, and I hope he says somewhat on that today. The second coming is pretty amazing, and I would like to learn more about it. Also, you asked what it is like to be a missionary. Well, each morning you arise at 6 or 6:30 and exercise. You then either study or get ready (you switch off with your companion as needed), in your study you try to focus on Preach my Gospel the Book of mormon and the ensign. I honestly love my hour of personal study. I learn so many things from the book of Mormon. I am reading two copies of the book of mormon right now. One copy is studying the atonement and the commandments, the other is an in depth study of the chapters on how to be a better missionary. I also study the Lesson's in preach my gospel. I role play how to teach them in the shower or at night when I can not sleep. I have had many spiritual experiences with this. I have found that I am better prepared to teach that day if I have done this. We then have companion ship study. We read from the white handbook, sing and pray. We then share with each other the things we have learned. I think I will keep this as a practice for if and when I get married. I have learned so much more from what I have studied then ever before in my life. It is awesome. We then plan and prepare for the rest of the day. We set out for appointments, trackting, findind referrals or service. I serve at the pantry. Every week we unload food and stock it. I do the pastries section. I am the Master of this section. In fact, I have been so blessed from my retail experience on shelving that I am the one called to do the pastries. I stack and organize them. Each week they keep telling me that they aren't challenging me enough. However, I feel challenged. We usually have dinner appointments after that. I enjoy dinner appointments. We are able to help ward members and get to know them better. It makes missionary work a lot easier if you get to know the members....ps do not tell benton that. Then, we do training for an hour, we update the area book, daily plan and get ready for bed. Most nights I write in my journal, read the scriptures and pray. Some nights I dance to some disney music from Mulan in order to relieve stress and other nights I color in my Garfield coloring book (a method to relieve stress). It is quite awesome. My companions mostly just laugh at my quirks, but oh well. So does that answer a few questions? I hope it does? If you have any others please ask. As far as investigators, we are somewhat struggling. I am somewhat discouraged by this, but the Lord keeps telling me to keep moving forward. I remember the many blessings dad gave me to keep moving forward and to allow course correction; I honestly have learned so much about not quitting or giving up. I think of Nephi(8 years in the wilderness) or ammon 14 years as a missionary. I realize as I change my heart and allow the Lord to mold me I am able to do his work better. I think this first part of my mission has truly been to humble me. Although I am far from good at it, I am learning how to humble myself before the Lord and accept his timing. I have learned that from dealing daily with others who have different ideas than I, and I have learned that through continual changes the Lord is making in me. I am so sorry for the person I was, and I hope I never go back to being that way. How grateful I am for your patience with me, and your continual love despite my many many issues. All right, well now that you know a little more about what I do, I shall ask about everyone else. How is Jules Benton and Dezy? I haven't heard from ya'll in a long time. I hope all is well. Amity and Fam has a dog? What? That is absolutely awesome. I hope daisy is a lot like old yeller? Where did you get this pup? Abe has five room mates? That is cool. I hope they are all awesome and chill. Guys with drama are worse than girls with drama. Who are they? What is Ben up too? What kind of Camera does he use? I have some people I am working with who wanted to know. Grandma Stott is Legit. I shared with some members how she has a hand gun. She may be signing autographs for people in naperville. I think that is so inspired that she is in Young Women's. She will help those girls more than any one could. She will teach them the finer points of being a woman. I am so grateful for Mom and Grandma for teaching those things to me. They sure help on a mission. Dad I am so sorry you and mom share all things. That is not always the best as you are expressing. Mom thank your for the package. Packages and letters are honestly a ray of sunshine on the very cloudy days in Chicago. Did you get my letter? I always wonder about that. What is abe's address? I would love to write him. How is Beth doing? I always pray for her. She is basically the female version of a stud. Mom what is willie's address. I would love to write to her. If anyone in the ward would like a letter once a month, let me know. I have learned that the Lord inspires you to write letters to people. I have also learned that spending even P-day in the service of others is more important than worrying about self. I love you all a lot. I am sending your february challenge this week. Love, Sister Braten