Family and Friends!!
Goodness! Transfer weeks
are crazy!! I always end up so tired and worn by the end of them! On
Monday of last week I had been told I would be going to the Ponderosa
area with Sister Follwell .. However, the Lord likes to trick me, so on
Tuesday I got a call telling me that instead of Ponderosa I would be
going to the Explorer Park ward with Sister Kipp! So here I am getting
flushed into another ward, not to mention this ward is one of the 3
Sister biking area's in the mission! So I have defiantly got my work cut
out for me! But, most of this week has been spent biking and walking...
and of course meeting the new members here. The ward is great and I can
tell that I am going to love this area already! There is A LOT of
Less-Active work to be done though so I'm ready to jump in and try my
best! ... This email is going to be kind of short because this week
wasn't too exciting.... Well it was but nothing much to write
about. But, I do have one story for all you St. Georgians. The first day
we got into our area we had a dinner appointment with a family that
just moved into the area. So, we got on our bikes and headed on over,
after storing our bikes safely in the garage we went inside where I
spotted a picture of the St. George temple and got really excited
because that is out of the norm! So of course I asked about it and was
talking about how I was from St. George to which Sister Thomas responded
'oh? What area?' and then I went on to explain that I was actually from
Washington Utah but saying so confused most people. 'Really? I'm from
Washington Utah too! Where in Washington do you live?' 'I live close to
the Green Springs Golf course' ... Well to make a long story short.
Sister Thomas was previously a Jones ... As in we grew up in the same
ward!! It was crazy! This week I have been reading in an old conference
ensign and came across a quote from Winston Churchill that I really
liked! it says: "To every man there comes … that special moment when he
is figuratively
tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a special thing
unique to him and fitted to his talent. What a tragedy if that moment
finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his
finest hour.” I love this quote! We hear so many times that we must
cultivate our talents but when put in this perspective it gave me a new
sense of urgency. If there was ever a time when God called me to do
something and I was found unprepared I think I would be crushed and
heartbroken!! So, I have tried really hard to use and develop my talents
so when the time comes I am ready to answer the call! I love you all!
Monday, July 22, 2013
Monday, July 15, 2013
.... And I'm packing up again....
Dear Family and Friends,
This weeks marks the third time in 3 weeks
that I have to pack up everything I own! Yup, I'm
getting transferred again... In fact, my companion is going to go to my
old area and I'm going to be with my current companions old trainer...
So we are kind of doing a swap in a way.So this week has been a
little hectic we knew last week that Sister Spear was transferring but we
didn't know if I was. So this week has been spent mostly on Sister
Spear saying her 'goodbyes' to the people in the area that she has come
to love. It has been a rough road for her, especially since she has
been in the area so long. I don't know if I have mentioned this but I
really learned how to teach people not just lessons from her. She loves
the people she is teaching so much, and I don't think anyone but her
could have touched the people she has. I know that this ward is loosing a
great missionary and a great resource. But I also know that she will do
great in the YSA ward. Her acceptance of people is something the
members in the YSA wards really need. Anyways, I'm sad to be leaving
this area, I feel a little ripped off because I only got to be in this
ward for three weeks but I know that the Lord has a plan and maybe those
I was meant to touch only needed me there for a short period of time.
I'm excited to start a new adventure. Unfortunately I don't know the
mission well enough to tell you where I am going because I don't' know
either but I know it is out of the Colorado Springs area. You will all
have to forgive me because I forgot my planner again today and as such I
cannot remember everything or really much of anything that has
happened. One of my all time favorite chapters in The Book of Mormon is
in 2 Nephi 4 its one I've nicknamed as Nephi's lament. In verses 18-24
it says:
"18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.
19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart goaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.
20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine
afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters
of the great deep.
21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
22 He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.
23 Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the nighttime.
24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my
voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto
me."
Aren't those scriptures so great? I love them because
they give me courage. When I picture Nephi I picture someone who
was courageous and righteous always. But! Even he got discouraged and
when that happened he wrote about it giving us a perfect formula go
overcome discouragement in our lives. First after admitting his own
'nothingness' he stated 'I know in whom I have trusted.' When we are
tempted or when sin 'doth easily beset us' the first thing we need to do
is admit that we can't do this alone. We need to find our anchor in the
Savior and trust that he will take care of us. Next, he listed the
blessings he has received by following Christ. One thing that I have
found in times of trials is praying that I can be blessed with
understanding for my trials and why I am going through them. And then
after that I sit and think of the blessings I have received during the
trials and I list in my mind or on paper all the times I
was privileged to see God's hand in my life even through difficult
times. Finally at the end of the chapter Nephi states that he will put
his trust in God 'forever'. After all this when we acknowledge that God
has our best interests in mind and even though our plan is not his, he
knows what is best for us. ... Sorry the thought there was super scatter
brained but I hope what I was trying to get at was able to
get across to y'all! I love you, have a wonderful week!
Love,
Sister Bice
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Onward... ever Onward!!
Family and friends!
I hope everyone's week
has been fantastic! Mine has been a little crazy as usual!!! I guess to
start with we got to march in a parade! That was fun, we sang 4 songs as
a group of about 100 missionaries. So while some of us sang others
passed out candy and mormon.org
cards. I didn't see a whole lot of it because it was super sunny and I
took off my glasses to avoid getting a goofy sunburn. But, from what I
could see there where a lot of people there. We also probably got the
most cheers out of any other religious float in the parade.. According
to some ward members anyways. It was a little rough though because I
forgot to bring water to drink and marching in the sunshine singing at
the top of your lungs gets to you!! My voice was so super sore! Then
after all that craziness we had to go home and I had to pack a bag for
exchanges. Then I headed over to a different ward for the duration of
Friday. During which I got to meet a cute baby named Junior who tried to
snap my glasses in half... He was a strong baby and it took both Sister
Hendricks and myself to get my glasses back without breaking them in
the process!! Finally, on Saturday when I was all situated back in my
area Sister Spear and I were doing some stop-by's and we were all
driving down the road when I spied a street titled 'dolphin circle' so
since I do love Dolphins I pointed out the name to my companion to which
she got super excited and said 'that was in my dream last night!' So
quickly we turned around the car and whipped out our handy dandy ward
list and looked for a ward member who might live on dolphin circle.
Well, we found a part member family that as far as we know hasn't
received a visit from the missionaries since they have been here. When
we stopped by the husband answered and said he was agnostic and he
didn't think his wife would be interested either. However, Sister Spear
and I still feel really good about it so we will continue forward! So in
my studies this week I started reading the Book of Mormon marking and
paying particular attention to the concept of Faith and as I did so I
came across 1 Nephi Chapter 9 where Nephi is talking about how he is
making two sets of plates for a 'wise purpose in him, which I know not."
And I was thinking about how hard it was to write the Book of Mormon by
itself but to have the faith to make another set of plates all on
noting ore than the Lords word must have taken a lot of courage! Not
only that Nephi never in his life time understood why he was asked to
engrave two sets of plates. I really liked this because I've had a lot
of questions about this lately from people in our ward. Why would God
ask us to do something if there at that time wasn't a foreseeable
result. But, as a missionary we are doing this all the time. We feel
prompted to knock a certain street and we do so only to have no one
answer the door. Sometimes the Lord asks us to do something and we cant
see why or are ever able to see why but as we have faith and follow him
then we will be blessed and eventually maybe we will be able to see why.
And if not then we know that it was done in the faith of the Lord so
that in that great and last day we can and will stand blameless before
him!! I know this to be true with all my heart and I have gained such a
testimony of faith since I've been on my mission. That even faith as a
grain of mustard seed can move mountains!
Monday, July 1, 2013
This week has been crazy and mostly full of meetings!!!
Dear Family and Friends:)
This week
has been crazy and mostly full of meetings!!! The first one was
specialized Zone Training which went from 8:00 in the morning to 4:00 in
the afternoon! But, it was a really good meeting, we talked about using
family history working in finding, reactivating and retaining members.
I'm really excited because I've been feeling like family history and
genealogy work is a tool that I've needed to start using more in
missionary work and then what do you know they have a whole meeting on
how the whole mission is going to start doing so. We also had a lot of
other meetings this week that I really liked. I don't know how many of
you attended the Leadership broadcast on missionary work but it
announced some pretty exciting changes to the way we will be working. We
do not know yet when the changes will be taking place we just know it
will be throughout the year. These changes include the use of internet
to missionaries such as Facebook to contact and help the members in our
area. I've also heard rumors that some missions have been getting I-pads
specially designed to only pull up church websites for use in teaching.
But that has been exciting and we have been getting a lot of questions.
We were also able to go to a Less-Active/Returning members house to
help her several times this week and she had some questions that really
made me think. She has had car troubles and work troubles all this week
and she has been frustrated. She keeps asking why if she is trying to do
what is right and what is good are all these bad things happening to
her. It made me think of a talk that I read because Harriet gave it to
us as a reading assignment (yes, we traded reading assignments with her
frequently) it is by Jeffery R. Holland and is titled 'cast not away
therefore your confidence' The whole talk is fantastic but my favorite
quote says this: "With any major decision there are cautions and
considerations to make,
but once there has been illumination, beware the temptation to retreat
from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted
it and lived for it, it is right now. Don’t give up when the pressure
mounts. Certainly don’t give in to that being who is bent on the
destruction of your happiness. Face your doubts. Master your fears.
“Cast not away therefore your confidence.” Stay the course and see the
beauty of life unfold for you."
Crazy Week!
6/17/13
Dear Family and Friends!!
This week has
been CRAZY!! I don't even know where to start!! First off, I guess would
be that our members left last Saturday morning not to be home until
Sunday night. This was super crazy because on Tuesday as you may or may
not of heard a fire started up in Black Forest Colorado Springs. Well,
on Wednesday we heard that our house may, or may not be in the
evacuation area. So we drove home after a long day at the Soup
Kitchen(where I got to cook and feel very chief like by the way!) We
drove home because all of our appointments had canceled due to said
fire. When we got home since our members were gone we went to our next
door neighbors house and knocked on her door to ask if we were in the
evacuation area. Well, she told us that no we as of yet were not but she
suspected we would be soon so we should go home and pack our stuff and
then watch the news to find out if we were to get evacuated. To which I
had the pleasure of replying "Well, actually, as missionaries we are not
allowed to watch TV." So she wrote down our number and told us she
would call with any news. So we pranced along home and I paced a lot as
we tried to contact our members to find out if they wanted anything from
their house that we could take for them. But they didn't answer, and so
I paced a lot and then ate lots of ice cream (which luckily I had
bought on p-day) Eventually we went to our room and began packing a few
things when we got a call from our neighbor telling us that our area had
been put under voluntary evacuation. So, I quickly called the Zone
Leaders and then the Mission office where I was instructed that Sister
Sawyer and myself had to pack every last thing we owned and then
evacuate up north to Monument. So, I have never in my life been so
grateful for having so little in my life. Packing everything I owned
didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would!! So, we packed and got
a call back from our members telling us their most valuables that they
needed packed. and then we were off to Monument! Except, when we got
there we were informed that Monument was also in per-evacuation so we
didn't even bother unpacking and sure enough 4 hours later we were told
to evacuate once more. This time down south in the direction the fire
wasn't spreading so we got to stay put for a few days until we were told
the fire was contained enough for us to move back home! But, it was a
crazy situation all around!!! The rest of the week didn't calm down
either. We were trying to go to appointments but most of the people we
were trying to see were in per-evacuations as well so we ended up
tracting and trying to find people we could help. So that was our Crazy
week.
Family and Friends!!
6/10/13
Family and Friends!!
I think this week has been
the craziest and most stressful week on my mission so far!! Of course I
think I say that about every new week... But this week it is especially
true because I got my baby girl (trainee)! I'll tell you what, I
defiantly feel overwhelmed with the responsibility God has given me! The
first part of the week was spent packing especially since they didn't
let us know until Tuesday which one of us would be moving!!! and then
most of Wednesday was spent unpacking my new missionaries luggage. But
then the week started up and I'll tell you what it was really
stressful!! In fact on Friday I had a break down and just cried my eyes
out because I was so stressed! But no worries! This week has also been a
week for miracles:) I've been practicing praying and asking God
specifically for the things that I need so I took my new missionary
(Sister Sawyer) and brought her new missionary Tracting!! When we were
about to head over I said a prayer that we would find one of Gods
prepared children at the apartment complex where we were and within the
time we had scheduled to tract. Well, of course Heavenly Father wants
new missionaries to have a good first experience with tracting so our
prayer was answered! We tracted into a gentleman named Robert who has
been being prepared to receive the gospel for years! We have a return
appointment with him on Saturday and then unfortunately we will have to
give him to the Elders because he is not YSA age. But it was still such a
great testimony to me of the power of prayer and even more praying
specifically while also being aware of Gods will for us. Then on Sunday
we had the opportunity to hear a Less Active I have been working with
since I got here get up and bear his sweet and simple testimony on God's
love and how he knows that God loves him and is taking care of him and
his needs. Unfortunelty, because this week involved a lot of getting
back on my feet and taking control of the area, this email isn't very
long!! But know that I love you all and I have a testimony of this
gospel and its enabling power! One thing Sister Sawyer says a lot that I
really like is 'whom God calls he qualifies' I know that even though I
may feel unequal to the task ahead that God will take care and watch
over me. Just as I know he is watching over all of you!! I love you
all!! You are always in my prayers!
Family and Friends!
6/03/13
Family and Friends!
First
and foremost I received a call on Friday afternoon where I was told I
am PREGNANT! And due on Wednesday! ... Now sorry if this gave any of you
a heart attack but this is mission lingo for 'I'm training and I am
getting my new trainee on Wednesday!" Well.. Kind of... She is actually a
Visa waiter so I wont go through the whole training program with her
but it is my job to train her a little bit so her actual trainer doesn't
have to start from square one when she gets to her area. I'm really
excited but I'm also really nervous! I'm just 3 months old in mission
terms!! But! The Lord knows what he is doing, so I guess there is
something this new missionary needs to learn from me before she departs
to where ever she is headed. Other than that bit of news this week has
been so crazy and so good at the same time! First, Harriet introduced us
to her family and we got to talk with them a little bit about the
gospel. They were so nice and so open to learning, in fact many of them
have been looking into the gospel already since Harriet told them about
being baptized. So we just had to direct them to the church web sites
and Harriet has already given her mom a Book of Mormon and is planning
to give one to her other family members as well. But the sad part about
it all is that she is gone now... She went back home on Friday morning,
but its alright because we are defiantly staying in touch!
So, the other day I had someone ask me about what my
favorite part of serving a mission is. I have to answer this with saying
my favorite part is seeing people grow. Watching them and how happy
them become once they embrace this gospel and all the things this gospel
includes. I say this one because of Harriet and watching her grow and
seeing how much happier she became once she fully embraced the doctrine
of the atonement. But also because this week we had an appointment with a
less active member. This member has been working with missionaries for a
couple of years and even then when we first met with him the Saturday
after I got here he said he considered himself an investigator and that
he didn't know anything. Well when we met with this member, he shared
with us something he wrote down during his scripture study. And it was
by far one of the purest testimonies of God and Jesus Christ and their
love for us that I have ever heard. He told us of how the first time in a
long time and maybe ever he was able to go home teaching and bear his
testimony of the fact that he KNEW God loves us. He also mentioned that
he wants to go on a mission. It is such a blessing to have watched his
progression. Even when at times it was frustrating and all it took
everything we had to have him keep his commitments to pray and read the
scriptures. But, it was so worth it because he is so infinitely happier
than he was the first time we met with him. One of my favorite
scriptures is D&C 88:63 "Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto
you; Seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall
receive; knock and it shall be opened unto you." But recently I found a
scripture that is just as good it is in 3 Nephi 24:27 and it says: "...
Return unto me and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of Hosts." I
love that, especially since I have been working with Less Active
members. The Lord is always there his hand is always outstretched we
just have to be the ones to come or to return to him and take what he
has to offer. The best part is if we do, we will be happy because God
wants us to be happy. Even if things get rough he has provided a way to
help us and guide us through those rough times. I love you all so much!Explanations
5/28/13
5/28/13
Family and Friends,
So this week wasn't
very exciting... I was sick for the first half and then I got my
companion sick for the second half! But, the work goes on whether we are
sick or not so we did have the opportunity to go out and teach! In
fact, there were a few people that we ran into throughout the day that I
thought we wouldn't have had an opportunity to talk to if we hadn't
gone out to do the Lords work. Several of them were members who just
needed to talk, and others were people who were non-members who knew
about the church through friends. One of the investigators we had the
opportunity to teach was actually from Germany! And is in Tasha's
mission!! Crazy! I feel like this keeps happening:) We also almost got
kicked out of an apartment complex! We had just stopped by a less active
members house to see if she was home and if we could visit with her,
unfortunately, she was not home so we decided to go tracing in the area
since we were there. So, because we are in a Young Single Adult ward we
don't go to houses to tract because there is less chance of finding
someone single and between the ages of 18-30 to teach... Instead we go
to apartment complexes. After driving around for a while we found an
apartment complex that we felt good about and went on to tract... Well
the first door we knocked on was a lady, who didn't even come out at
first she was yelling through the door. But after a few minutes she
opened the door, so we did our door approach where we introduce
ourselves and the next thing she said was 'your not supposed to be
here.' to which we responded 'we didn't see any signs posted' 'well
there is no soliciting here' 'actually we are not soliciting we are
canvasing (this is another fancier word for tracting because we are not
selling anything therefore not soliciting)' 'well your still not
supposed to be here' and then she closed the door on us... But, no
worries we just went to the next hallway over so she wouldn't see us and
call management on us... :) So this week, I think I have heard quoted
to me Ether 12:27 three times. So I figure I'm supposed to really pay
attention to what it is saying. But, when I first got out here Sister
Horrocks and I were doing companionship study and she pointed something
out about this verse that I had never really noticed it says: '27 And if
men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness (one). I give
unto men weakness (one) that they may be humble; and my grace is
sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they
humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, them will I make weak
things (plural) become strong unto them." I love that! If we will bring
before God our weakness then he will strengthen us in more ways than
one. That by becoming stronger in one aspect of our lives Christ will
make us stronger in many. I have gained such a testimony of this! I have
noticed that as I work to strengthen my testimony in one aspect of the
gospel I am strengthened in several! I love you all and challenge you to
work on strengthening something this week! Be safe and well!Pictures!
Family and Friends!
5/21/13
Family and Friends!
So... I was in such a hurry to get to the library in order to write
everyone that I forgot my planner... So bear with me as I try to
remember what has even happened since I last e-mailed! Goodness, that
planner is my life! Without it I don't even know what has happened
during a week. So I guess the first thing was I got to do exchanges
again because Sister Horrocks went up to her temple Jubilee (which is a
day you spend out at the temple once you have hit your halfway mark) I'm
thinking you all must have been praying too hard for me to get to use
my bike while I am out here... Because boy oh boy did that happen!
Neither Sister Briggs nor I had driving privileges so it was a biking
day only someone forgot to consider the fact that Sister Briggs' area
(which we were in for the day) is not even close to where her house is..
Not only that we had to bike up a mountain to get there as well.
Needless to say it was a crazy and really tiring day! But, its alright I
guess that is Heavenly Fathers way of telling me I need to get back in
shape and finally get used to the elevation difference here. So after
our crazy busy biking day I got Sister Horrocks back from the temple and
then we turned around and went back up to the temple together with
Harriet to go and do baptisms! It was really nice to get to go to the
temple again, I feel like it has been forever but really it has only
been three months since I was last there. It was also a great experience
to see someone who has just been baptized turn around and give those
privileges and opportunities to ancestors who didn't have the chance to
accept the gospel in this life. I know it meant a lot to her to be able
to perform those ordinances.
Then he goes on to talk about how if God who is so great
gives us so much how we ought to impart our substance upon those in
need. But! Even then we are given blessings. One thing I have been
thinking about lately is that God doesn't do anything unless he knows
that one day it will make us happy. He truly cares for all of us, and
sometimes there are going to be moments where things are rough. But, how
would we ever recognize the good times if we don't go through tough
ones? Happiness is a choice, and sometimes a hard one but we have been
given our agency and along with that we can choose to be happy!
I love you all and I hope you are doing well! Stay safe and don't forget to be happy!
Love,
Sister Bice
Family and Friends!!
Family and Friends!!
What a crazy week!! Monday
night we were to go on exchanges with our new Sister trainers and we had
everything worked out on who would go where... Or so we thought...
Sister Tisdale and Sister Hendricks arrived and we went to go to our
areas (Sister Hendricks with me and Sister Tisdale with Sister
Horrocks.) Only we realized that Neither Sister Hedricks nor I had
driving privileges!! We had to do a last minute switch up which resulted
in me running home and throwing stuff into an overnight bag. We didn't
get to Sister Tisdales area until way late and we were exhausted!!
Luckily, the next day slowed down!! We had some good investigator
lessons and since Sister Tisdale was new to her area we did a lot of
drop-by appointments! But, it was really fun... and different! I am so
used to teaching with Sister Horrocks that it took me a long time to get
used to someone new! The next day I was home again and it was Sister
Horrock's birthday!!! Which was a good day, with a lot of cake!!! first
we got brownies from our Elders, then we had a lesson with Harriet to
which she brought cake. After our lesson we had dinner with a member of
the bishopric and they made us eat pie and ice cream. By the time this
was all over with we rolled ourselves home super full from all the food
and SURPRISE! The Whites had made cake and ice cream as well!! I think
I'm still working off all the cake we ate!! ... Hmmm... Let's see.. This
week we also did a lot of service! It was great! First we went back to
the soup kitchen were I was told that I made someones day.. That in
itself made my day:) In fact, I don't even know what I did to make his
day but I'm glad I was able to help:) Then we did service for the
members we live with, we made cake pops! and lots of them!! She has a
wedding reception for her son this weekend so we were/are helping her
get ready for it. Next we got to help be servers for people suffering
from Parkinson disease. Overall, it was a great week for service and we
loved it!
"28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
This
is such a wonderful promise! I have always loved the teachings of the
Atonement. That Christ suffered for our sins, for our pains and our
sorrows. That he and only he know EXACTLY how we feel. But as I thought
about these scriptures there is so much more! In 1 Peter 5:7 it says
"casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." I am so
grateful for the knowledge this gospel has given me on who Jesus Christ
is and what role he can play in my life. There are many times,
especially as a missionary, where the burden I am carrying feels like it
will overwhelm me, but His burden is light and He is willing to let me
carry it while he takes upon himself my burdens. I love this gospel and
its teachings! There is nothing I think that I would rather do than
share something that has brought such joy into my life with those around
me! I love you all! Never be afraid of sharing your beliefs, you never
know when it can change their life's. Everyone is in our life for a
reason, I truly have a testimony of that!
Love,
Sister Bice
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