November 25th- Such a fun week!!!

So many stories to tell!!!!

Saying goodbye in Franklin was really hard. We first went and saw Heidi. We read with her from the Book of Mormon for a little bit and then I told her I was leaving. Now, Heidi doesn't show ANY emotion. I never thought I would see her cry. After saying a closing prayer with her I went to give her a hug. Then I began to see her eyes water. So I started crying! Then she really started crying. It was a tender moment to see tears rolling down her cheeks. Lizzie (her daughter) told me that I had done the impossible. That it really needed to be sisters to baptize her. It was really hard to leave. So then we went to the Gast's. As soon as she opened the door, Leah Ann said "I heard you're leaving". News that I was getting transferred had made it around facebook. It was SO HARD to say goodbye to them. Don asked who they needed to call so I could stay.

Tuesday night we went to YW's for a bit. Saying goodbye there was also really hard. Bishop West was pretty sad I was leaving. I also promised Bro De Caprio (a member of of the ward) that I would make sure to include the Franklin ward in my homecoming talk haha. I wish I could have stayed in that ward for the holidays, BUT! that's ok.

Ok Wedesday. So this was the biggest transfer meeting ever. 180 of the 240 missionaries in the mission were there. The mission now has 12 zones. I'm serving in Plymouth, way up north, just in time for winter. A year ago only 30 people were attending the branch. Then they called in a branch president from another ward. Lately the attendance has been in the 100, but it's starting to decline again. My companion's name is Sister McDowell. She's been out for 7 1/2 (no more training!). We are both PUMPED to be in the area. There's a lot of work to do here. I had a feeling I would probably be going north. President started talking about the Plymouth branch and I just wanted to go there. He said it was going to take two special sisters to serve there. Then he announced my name! Sisters got put in their 6 weeks ago, but then had to be emergency transferred out three weeks ago due to medical issues. Three double transfer in a row. I'm beginning to think I'm only going to get double transferred my entire mission.

So after the crazy transfer meeting, we found out our car was in Mishawaka, also in the South Bend stake and we were in Fishers. So no car or way to get there. Sister Cleveland took us out to lunch so we wouldn't starve. When we got back to the church the assistants were busy training so we couldn't talk to them. So then we had to wait until they got done at 3. We had to get like 9 missionaries up here to South Bend and we only had one mini van that the zone leaders drive. So finally we rolled out of Fishers around 6 pm. The assistants drove the huge van with the trailer with all the elders stuff. We stopped for dinner in Kokomo. We got to see all the damage! We spent like three hours in the car with the assistants. Probably one of the funnest drives I've ever made. Mostly because A. we aren't supposed to ride with elders. B. we ate food in the car even though we aren't supposed to. BUT we had permission to do both. Elder Sorenson told us all about the area and how awesome President Kelly (the branch president) is. We didn't get to Plymouth until after 9:30 that night and we were both exhausted! 

Friday.....Dad I'm not a twerp! We didn't find out about the BYU devotional fireside until Thursday night. We actually drove up to South Bend for our district meeting that morning. South Bend is almost an hour away and we didn't think we would be able to go. For some reason the elders in the ward really wanted us to go so they were able to find us a ride. So yes we did get to go to the BYU football devotional. The QB (I have no idea what his name is haha) and coach Mendenhall spoke. Too bad they lost the game. It was pretty good though. 

Saturday consisted of trying a ton of potentials that the elders left us. The only problem? I was running a fever, it was snowing, and about 20 degrees outside. It was a pretty miserable day. Luckily we've been able to meet with some less actives and recent converts that past couple of days. President Cleveland called us Saturday night and asked us how we like the weather and if we were freezing haha. We kindly thanked him for sending us north for the winter. He freaked out a bit when we told him there weren't any blankets in the apartment. He said "what are you going to do? sleep in all your clothes" we told him yes. I wore a ton of clothes that night and even slept with my coat across me. Already I'm tired of hearing the words "lake effect" haha. My companion is from Arizona....good thing she likes seeing all the snow. 

We spent like 9 hours at the church yesterday in meetings. The branch is pretty small. The building is tiny! It doesn't even have a chapel! Just one big room that has a bunch of dividers to make smaller rooms. I took a picture, maybe I'll attach it. I felt pretty crummy all day yesterday too. Just really achy and my throat hurt REALLY bad, to the point where I didn't want to talk because it hurt so bad. As we were wrapping up everything I asked the elders to give me a blessing. I feel a lot better today! Which is good; our preparation day today ends at 1 so we are trying more potentials and it's still pretty cold outside. 

We have the sweetest apartment! I take some pictures to send to you next week. Sister McDowell and I love it. Plymouth itself is pretty small, but there are a ton of little towns everywhere and our area is huge. The people here are very humble, low income families. Oh! We were just at the grocery store. When we were riding with the assistants they told us there are a lot of Amish people up here. When they told me that I was like "I want to see one". Well when we came out of the store there was a horse and buggy tied up to the lamp post. We both took a picture.....

Hopefully this week we can actually meet investigators and potentials and get the work moving. We are also going to focus on meeting people in the branch, because that is where the real growth will happen. I'm really very excited to be here! Leaving Franklin was hard because the ward is so incredible. However, I feel like in this area we'll be able to focus on missionary work, which is good obviously. 

Thanksgiving will be....interesting. We are going to a less active's house for dinner. I think we'll spend most of the day cleaning our apartment and playing yatzhee! 

Picture one: the only dog I will EVER love. Her name is Annie. Her owner (also in the picture) is the lady we did service with in Franklin. 

Picture two: yesterday before church

Picture three: waiting in the van for the elders, first picture as companions! 

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November 18th-YES I'M ALIVE!!!

haha yesterday was a tad crazy with the tornadoes. Franklin was fine;   we did get a special call from the assistants saying that Franklin was under special watch or something. We were at the church for a baptism and just decided to stay instead of going tracting. We helped the YW's president set up for YW in Excellence instead. Some towns certainly got some damage though. I'll attach a picture of the clouds last night, they were sweet!

So Friday we had a missionary movie night! Unfortunately not as many members showed up with friends as we were hoping. We watched Ephraim's Rescue! It was pretty good and I'd definitely recommend it. We went over to the Gast's on Tuesday to invite them. I mentioned something about being really excited to watch it. Don said "you're just excited because you haven't seen a movie in eight months" haha right he was! The movie is about the Martin and Willie handcart company. It made me put my life back into perspective and certainly made me count my blessings.

We were out tracting earlier on Friday. For the first time ever someone called the church a cult. I almost started laughing....but instead just bore testimony that Christ is our Savior. I figured that was a better way to handle it.

We went to see a less active family with a member on Thursday night. This has nothing to do with missionary work, I just thought it was funny. The member uses the term "domestic goddess" to describe a stay at home mom....I just wanted to record it for future reference.

I wouldn't recommend speaking in stake conference on one of your five worst days of the mission....not a good experience to say the least. But I managed! I didn't really feel prepared for the talk at all. Mostly because I knew I only had eight minutes, but I only had an outline. Sorry I forgot my notes at home, so you don't get to know what I spoke about haha. Luckily a lot of people said I did well. It wasn't too nerve wracking, mostly because I actually knew people because I've served in two wards in this stake. In fact I got a phone call from a member this morning that almost brought me to tears. She said said she was very impressed with my talk and that I seemed like an experienced adult speaker. Little does she know that only eight months ago I was terrified to give my farewell talk. Oh! In my talk I mentioned how I was scared of missionaries before I came out and how I avoided talking to the elders....they all thought that was funny.

During the Sunday morning session I got to see even more people from Seymour. Benjamin came! He's the Hispanic that I taught in Seymour. He got baptized the same day as Heidi so I couldn't go to his service. When I went and shook his hand he was like "what the heck you just left all the sudden". I told him that's how we work haha. Both sessions certainly had a focus on missionary work. President Cleveland went into coach mode as we call it. He's awesome.

After conference we went and taught a lady my the name of Kim. K hopefully what I'm about to explain makes sense. So Don and Leah Ann's son-in-law is Jeremy who is a member. Kim is Jeremy's mom. Missionaries have been sent over a million times probably but she has never let them in. Well! She let Sister Tibbitts and I in! We taught her about the Restoration while she was busy making pumpkin rolls. She had a lot of WEIRD ideas about who Joseph Smith was....we certainly clarified some things for her. So then after that is when all the tornado stuff happened...we still have some pretty strong winds.

I'm getting transferred out of Franklin. I'm really sad. Last night when the assistants called, he said "Sister Mayberry, I have some really sad news, you're leaving Franklin. Don't worry, when I got transferred out I was really sad too". Although it's hard, I know that it is necessary. So on to new adventures! I'm VERY grateful for the time that I have been able to spend here. Teaching the Gast's and Heidi have been the privilege of a lifetime. Also I realized something yesterday at conference. People do remember the missionaries that serve in their wards. I saw the only lady who we helped paint her fence back in Seymour. She gave me a big hug and said every time she looks at that fence she thinks of me. Yesterday made me realize that I am making a difference somehow. Honestly, I feel like a complete instrument. That it truly isn't me. I know that whoever spoke in stake conference wasn't really me. Because Kyla is scared of talking people and doesn't enjoy shaking people's hand and socializing. But! That's changing a little bit everyday.

It's crazy to think that I'm at my half way point right now. Friday marked a year since opening my call. I was a bit sentimental that day. I've still got so much to learn in the next nine months. I can't wait! Hope everyone had a great week!

oh and it snowed this week, but barely

"Tough as toenails..."-November 11th

That's what a member told us during lunch yesterday...quote of the week!

Well similar to last week, Saturday and Sunday were great days!

But to back up, on Wednesday we had specialized training for new missionaries and their trainers up in Fishers. Unfortunately Sister Tibbitts wasn't feeling well, but I had a great time! I realized I should have brought my study journal so I could record some of my thoughts. Trainings are always good because they help me focus more on the work.

Anyways, so Friday night we went and taught Don and Leah Ann the last time as investigators, it was kind of bitter sweet! When we were leaving I told them that tomorrow they become Mormons! Leah Ann responded by telling us she already feels like she's a Mormon. Then I explained to them what a dry Mormon was, they both thought that was pretty funny. Right after they were baptized Don told me "I'm now a wet Mormon" haha, he's got the funniest sense of humor. Oh yeah! When we went over there on Tuesday night they had two copies of the general conference Ensign sitting on their table. I told them it was pretty sad that they got their copies before the missionaries did! They finished reading D&C, maybe I told you that last week.

So Saturday morning one of my missionary dreams came true!! We were out tracting and we spotted two older people dressed in church clothes....Jehovah Witnesses! So we approached them I ended up talking to them for about 20 minutes. They were a really nice couple, they tried to Bible bash in a polite way haha. They agreed to a Restoration pamphlet, but I doubt they will ever read it. Anyways, I was pretty excited about that little experience. The afternoon we went down to Trafalgar to contact a referral received by a member, he wasn't interested. So instead we started tracting. On the third door we met Melanie, and she let us in! It still surmises me when people actually let us in. Taught her the Restoration, left her with a Book of Mormon and her phone number. We'll be calling her in a couple of weeks. We went and stopped by Heidi's afterwards. She's changed so much! The entire atmosphere in their house has changed, obviously it's the Spirit.

Tthe baptism Saturday night was incredible. Leah Ann was so nervous! Jonathon, their four year old grandson (the one I always talk about), said after Don got baptized "grandpa is so clean his head is shiny!" We all just laughed at that. Don't worry, I attached pictures at the end.

Sunday was also awesome. Their confirmations went really well. Then last night it was off the Why I Believe! It felt pretty surreal going back to White River; a lot of memories as I walked into that church building. Leah Ann was even more nervous to speak. The chapel was pretty full; I told Leah Ann to just remember most of the people were just 18 year old boys haha. She started off by thanking all of us missionaries for what we are doing. That missionaries had knocked on her door before and she thought she was so full of religion that she turned them away. She said to always remember that you don't know what is going to happen down the road. She said how they had just gotten baptized yesterday and now "I'm a full fledged Mormon!". Everyone just laughed. It was absolutely wonderful to hear her speak. She has such an incredible testimony and she's changed so much. She's still so hungry for truth! At the baptism the Relief Society president gave her the "Daughters of my Kingdom" Book, I think she's already finished it.

It was also great to see some of my missionary friends. It's crazy how we build bonds even though we don't know each other for that long. On the way home I asked them (we rode in the car with Don and Leah Ann) how they felt while they were getting confirmed. They both said the same thing; the felt the Spirit the strongest when the other was getting confirmed. They have such an incredible bond between the two of them. I can't wait until they can get sealed in a year! Yes I plan on being there :).

Now we have like no teaching pool....except one. So the finding will continue like it always does! I'm so grateful that I have been able to be here in Franklin for the last 11 weeks. It's crazy how each transfer is unique and the lessons you learn each time. I really do feel very lucky to be in this area. I just hope we can continue to see more miracles each and every day!

Finally a picture of them!!!!

November 4th

Wednesday we got to help a member with her tile! Yay for service opportunities. I was so pumped when she asked if we could help her. So we had a nice time chatting with her while we helped her clean her tile to get ready to grout (sp?) it.

Who cancels Halloween????? Apparently people in Indiana. Actually, it was a good thing. The tornado sirens went off that night!!!! I was so excited...Sister Tibbitts was worried we were going to die. Don't worry, we only heard them for about 10 minutes tops.

But more importantly we had interviews with President on Thursday. I love him! I'm so glad I've been able to get on the good side of my mission president. haha while we were talking he talked about "bringing out the coach hat", that's not something you want at all. But don't worry! He wasn't talking about me. So last week I talking about making the conscious decision to just be happy; that has continued this week. I can't let little things bother me. Missionary work is simple. Something else I studied one morning this week. Called to serve. Everyone (well at least me) loves serving people. I read over the copy of my call letter that I brought with me.

 What does it say? It says that I am called to serve in the Indiana Indianapolis mission. I've tried to have the mindset every moment that I'm serving other people. It makes the day a lot more enjoyable. Luckily, President is all about serving the members.

We had zone meeting on Friday. Benjamin got baptized Saturday! He was the Hispanic I taught in Seymour, I wish I could have gone. Ok Friday afternoon I was way stressed out. It seemed like we were running into problem after problem with Heidi's baptism the next day. I think I spent a total of an hour on the phone just trying to get things finalized. At one point I really didn't think the baptism was going to happen. That night we went and saw Don and Leah Ann and finished the baptismal interview questions with them. Leah Ann is already being a missionary! She's been posting youtube videos on facebook of President Uchtdorf. She says she figures her family is going to find out sooner or later anyways.

Ok SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WERE THE BEST 48 HOURS OF MY LIFE!!! First Don and Leah Ann passed their interview! YES! Baptism this Saturday.

I wish I could capture every emotion I felt as I watched Heidi get baptized. So she got baptized at a physical therapy place up in Greenwood. The pool is probably 10 x 15 ft. The bottom is made of stainless steel and has holes in it so it can rise all the way to the top to meet the edge of the pool (hopefully that makes sense). Heidi didn't want anyone coming, but there ended up being probably 30 people (probably my fault). We went over to her house right after the interview to make sure she was all ready. When we pulled up she was waiting behind the door in her wheelchair dressed in a white dress. She told us she wasn't nervous at all, which I was very grateful for. We made it up to the facility with no problems, in fact we were a little early. So there was a little waiting around while everyone came. Sister Francis was able to come as well as an elder who had taught her previously (she's been meeting with the missionaries since February). After an opening song and prayer and a few remarks by President Hilton, then rolled her onto the bottom of the pool. Bro Wilde baptized her plus another man and Elder Newbold (the elder who taught her) went in the water. They slowly lowered down the floor until the water was about at her chin. Bro Wilde said the prayer, started to lean her back, and then she started floating! An unforeseen problem. So they ended up just kind of pushing her down to completely immerse her. I can't describe what I felt as I watched her get baptized. For the longest time she was so nervous, but she recognized that she needed to follow Christ's example. Later she told me that when she started floating, she wasn't nervous at all. We went over the her house afterwards. She looked so clean! That's the only way I can describe it. She told us it was all worth it. I could tell that she was really happy. I think her baptism is the most unique one I will ever see. I never imagined in my life that I would have the opportunity to teach and plan a baptism for someone who is bedridden. Definitely worthy all the stress I went through! Heidi has every reason to give up. She is completely dependent on other people, yet she chooses to progress. She's probably taught me more than I have ever taught her.

I wish every single one of you could have been in sacrament meeting in the Franklin ward on Sunday. Obviously Heidi first was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Bryant is a 17 year old investigator the elders are teaching. He got up and bore his testimony, can you say missionary? He's not even baptized yet. He set the tone for the entire meeting. Then Leah Ann got up! Also a less active that we've been helping reactivate. Yesterday was only her second time back at church and she was up there! I was sitting in the pew, thinking I should get up, but then telling myself the ward didn't want to hear from me because I'm speaking next week. But I couldn't sit there any longer. I had way to much joy in my heart and I NEEDED to share it with others. D&C 18 was coming to pass in my life. I know that me typing it doesn't do the service justice. There was just a very special spirit there. Afterwards Heidi said she wanted to go up too, it broke my heart. She just didn't know if she would be able to. We told her we would get her to church next Fast Sunday so she could.

After church we went with a couple, the Province's in our ward to visit a few people. The first is a less active family. They have four kids and stopped going to church about 4-5 years ago. I've seen them one before  last transfer and have been calling about every week to set up another appointment. They have every intention of coming to church, but they've been sick the last two Sundays. Anyways, the minute Brother Province mentioned the Indianapolis temple being built in a year their faces lit up. We talked about the possibility of them being sealed as a family. I think it sparked in them a real desire to change. I haven't been able to get this family out of my head! Then we went and met with a HQ referral we received earlier this week. He's dated a Mormon girl from the Martinsville ward in the past and goes to that ward sometimes. He has a sincere desire to learn if the church is true. So it was a typical Restoration lesson, which I love teaching. Anyways, it felt really good to be teaching a first lesson. It's been way too long since I've been able to do that. We committed him to baptism, he said yes. Next appointment on Sunday! I told President at interviews I was nervous because we were baptizing our entire teaching pool. Luckily, Heavenly Father has placed in our path another prepared soul.

The talk for stake conference is going well. I guess. I don't have time to just sit down and prepare a talk like you do when you are not on a mission. I had the craziest dream last night! Elder Holland showed up for conference and I got completely nervous! Luckily it won't happen because he was just here for another stake conference about two months ago. Also, Kenz you were there too! How that happened I have no idea. I am slowly working on it. I have a lot of ideas. We went out to dinner at the Hilton's last Monday night and President Hilton told me to make sure I only speak for 8 minutes, otherwise they won't be too happy. Now I'm more concerned that I'm going to go over my time!

I wish each of you could be in my shoes right now. I'm beyond excited for Don and Leah Ann's baptism on Saturday! She is also going to speak at Why I Believe next Sunday. There were still a lot of hard moments this week, don't get me wrong. But I got chastised in zone meeting by being reminded we are only supposed to write uplifting things home. So I focused on the miracles!

October 28th

First couple days of the week...awful. But I won't focus on those! Friday night was particularly hard, I went to bed miserable. When I woke up Saturday morning I didn't feel very good, but I pushed through exercising! Now...this might sound kind of weird, but I was really sad all morning, so while I was exercising I just kept praying. Finally, it just hit me. "Choose to be happy". I've told myself this a million times and now it's really time to apply it. My circumstances aren't going to change. I'm not going home and my mission will only improve if I choose to allow it. So instead of wallowing in self pity and forced a smile on my face and told myself I was going to be happy today. So I'm pretty sure I had a mild fever and chills and it was freezing cold outside. We didn't really have any plans so we weren't outside a lot. It would have been pretty easy to try and stay in because I wasn't feeling well, but I decided to just be diligent and make the most of it. It ended up being a pretty good day!

Mostly, I just want to tell you about yesterday. Ok wait first. Heidi is getting baptized on Saturday! Just in case you've forgotten, she's the one who has MS and only has movement of one of her arms. So she is getting baptized in a wheelchair at a medical facility. I'm very excited, it's been a long road for her. She started meeting with missionaries back in January.

Ok and then of coarse there is Don and Leah Ann. We finished teaching them the commandments this week. So when we were there Friday night, Jonathon (their grandson) told us as we were leaving that him, his dad, and mom were coming to church "we are going to be the smartest family!" His mom just laughed. Reminder, Carrie isn't too friendly towards the church. BUT! We walked into sacrament meeting she was there!!!! Leah Ann was so happy (Carrie is Leah Ann's daughter-sorry if you can't follow all the people I talk about). A less active we are working with also came to church so I was very excited! AND! A part member family shows up out of nowhere. We noticed them, didn't recognize them so we booked it over there the minute sacrament meeting was over. He's a very less active, was raised in the church but stopped going sometime in his teenage years. She's not a member. We got their phone number and set up a time to meet them this week! I was so excited!!

Next story. Earlier this week we tracted into a woman named Shelly. She didn't seem too interested but we were persistent because she mentioned growing up with some members in Columbus and invited ourselves back anyways. So she let us in yesterday afternoon. So the first time we met her, her daughter came home from school as we were wrapping up our conversation. Yesterday she told us that her daughter asked who we were and what we were doing. Shelly explained and then her daughter (she's nine) asked if they could be Mormon. Shelly told us that kids are able to sense good/bad spirits and she probably recognized that we were good people. So we taught her the Restoration, etc and set up another appointment. She hasn't found a church since she moved her to Franklin four years ago. She wants to come to church. She kept telling us how impressed she was with us because we seemed so solid for such a young age. She's golden! Anyways, I'm pretty excited about her.

Remember that time when I made fun of Mackenzie for having to speak in stake conference? Well I'm just busy with my personal studies last night and the phone starts ringing. Here's the conversation.

Me: "hello this is Sister Mayberry"

President Hill: "hello this is President Hill" - he's the stake president

the typical "how are you" exchange occurs

Me: "President Hill what can I do for you?"

President Hill: I heard that you are the best sister missionary out there"

Me:...."who did you hear that from?"

President Hill: "President Hilton told me" *President Hilton is in the missionary presidency and also in the Franklin ward.

Me thinking of course he did.

President Hill: "we would like you to speak at stake conference in three weeks"

Me: *pause*...."sure I'd love to"

Then he proceeds to tell me what to talk on....

Luckily it's only the Saturday night session, so they'll be less people. But at the same time there won't be any kids, so maybe people pay more attention? President Hilton called me this morning and said "I'm not you favorite person in the world right now am I". haha I told him he wasn't, but that I would forgive him. President Hill told President Hilton that he wanted a missionary to speak and I guess I was the first one that came to mind. He said especially because I've served in two wards in this stake. Anyways, I've been asked to speak on how members can help the full time missionaries. I'm speaking in sacrament meeting the week before, so I only have to prepare one talk really! Then sacrament meeting can be the practice one. So mother and father, your "special" stake conference is going to be on hastening the work of salvation. President Hilton was telling me that Salt Lake has specifically sent out a theme/program for each stake to use.

Sister Vanderveen sent me a quote this week by Elder Holland "Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don't come until heaven, but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ they come". I've thought about it a lot. I've thought a lot about what I need to change about myself in order to make the most of my mission. I'm quickly approaching my half way mark. It's hard to believe it. Like I started out this e-mail, I just have to focus on choosing to be happy and learning all I can. Yesterday in relief society and member said how she almost didn't come to church that morning because it would have been easier to just stay home. As she was talking this thought came to my mind "what am I going to gain by going home?" Absolutely nothing, Satan will win. I can't run away just when things get hard. I could technically do it now, but I won't be able to later in life. So? "If the bitter cup doesn't pass, drink it and move on". I'm drinking!! haha. Anyways, I just wanted to focus on the positive this week, instead of all the negative.

October 21st-"If the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and move on" Elder Holland

So very last minute we ended up going on exchanges on Thursday. Sister Tibbitts and I made the drive to Bloomington to spend the day on IU campus. It was so much better than last time! I was with Sister Allen again, who I absolutely love. Basically we just taught all day...we have five lessons. It was fun because it reminded me of my first transfer being back in a YSA. As we were driving down there Wednesday night I had some time to think. I realized I REALLY need to focus on effective studies and teaching people. I'm finally at the point where I feel semi-comfortable with where I'm at. I'm familiar with the area, I've trained before (although training is very different every time you do it) etc. I came to the conclusion that it's time to focus on fine tuning my missionary skills. Something Sister Donaldson taught me. I'll continue learning how to be a better missionary even once I get home. In some ways I don't want to go back to BYUI because they are all a bunch of Mormons! I'll just have to figure out how to still be a missionary. I talked with Sister Allen about it and it was perfect because we had so many lesson lined up. It was HARD teaching. I hadn't met any of these people before so it was an intense "teach people not lessons" day. By the last lesson I felt like I finally did something right. The girl we were teaching was questioning the Book of Mormon. I...I mean the Spirit explained it in a way that it made sense to her. There is nothing better than teaching someone and they get it. It's incredible what I am able to learn from people outside of the church. No they don't have the entire truth, but they have an incredible amount of faith and I am able to learn from them. I don't take advantage for the truth that I have in my life. Some of these people that I have met seem to have such stronger testimonies of Christ, and I just thing it's no big deal sometimes. Anyways, exchanges are my favorite, I know I've said that before. I learned a lot from Sister Allen. I was doing terrible pcing on campus....but she just reassured me. I want to be her companion someday two, only two transfers left though.

The elders had a baptism on Saturday. Two weeks in a row? Yeah I think the Franklin ward may very well be the highest baptizing ward in the mission. Anyways, Don and Leah Ann were able to come. They are so solid! We taught them enduring to the end and word of wisdom this week. They were totally cool with it. They told us they are no re-reading the Book of Mormon, started D&C the Priesthood/Relief Society manual and Leah Ann started the Pearl of Great Price haha. Anyways, I don't think anything could get better than teaching them.

I'm not sure what was going on this week, but I got a lot of extra mail which was great! I have to admit, I think that hardest part (at least for me) is thinking that everyone in your life has forgotten about you. Because I'm not around and I don't here from people, you can't help but wonder if people remember you. Saturday was hard....I let some negative things in that I shouldn't have been thinking about. Like looking at the clock, figuring out the time change and wondering what my family was doing at that moment.

A very interesting talk was given in sacrament yesterday. Brother Johnson is on the high council but also in our ward. He got up and said that every time he gets up to speak he asks Heavenly Father what specific thing he should tell the ward in addition to the talk he planned. He told us how that morning he woke up and the Spirit prompted him about what he needed to say. Then he spoke about repentance. Yes, he called the ward to repentance, but in a bold and loving way. It was incredible. Ok now that I'm writing it out it sounds stupid, but I guess it was one of those "you had to be there" moments. There are a lot of mistakes I have to repent of, and some of them are hard to let go. In every missionary's call letter it says that you are to completely devote all your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all personal affairs. That's hard. To completely give everything over to Heavenly Father. The quote in the subject box was something President Cleveland sent us a few weeks ago. We all have to drink bitter cups, multiple ones throughout our lives. I guess I'm learning to just deal with the hard times. My mission isn't going to go away. No matter how many times I go to bed wishing that the next morning I will wake up back in WA, it's not going to happen. At least not for awhile. Yesterday while we were getting ready I realized that one Sunday I'm going to wake up and I'm going to be going home the next day. In some ways that frightens me.

Yesterday at church this woman with five children walked in. She was given a mormon.org card by elders two years ago and she kept it. Her husband just got up a left about seven months ago. She knows she needs to make changes in her life. So? She just decided to try this church. We are going to go and see her this week. Miracle? I would say. Everyone tells us you never know what will become of the work we do. Well she's a living example of that.

This week was a little bit better, still had some very low moments. Luckily we have a lot of plans to be working with the ward in the coming week. Our ward mission leader is pretty sweet. He's totally willing to make phone calls to try and set up appointments with us. While I was sitting in sacrament meeting I realized that I really do love this ward. There are a ton of great families here and I really don't ever want to leave, but I know I will.

As a missionary, a lot of thoughts go through my head each day. A lot of emotions. One moment I'm very homesick and all I want to do is go home. But the minute I get into a teaching experience I don't want to be anywhere else. I think I'm just rambling at this point. Thanks for all the support from everyone! The letters and e-mails from different people this week certainly helped out a lot. The hardest part of a mission is the extreme loneliness that comes. I'm always with some one, but I've never felt so alone in my life. But that's good because it forces me to turn to Heavenly Father.

To end this rather random e-mail, I'm attaching some pictures of the local scenery. Indiana is beautiful in the fall, that's what everyone told me. I'm sad I only get one out here. I pulled out my nylons this week! It got a little cold, but it's warmed back up again.

October 14th

Transfer meetings are always a weird mix of emotions. I wasn't as nervous as I was the first time, but definitely still quite a bit. My new companions name is Sister Tibbitts, she's from Mesa Arizona. She's actually older than me which freaked me out at first, but only by six months. After transfer meeting we had to swing by the mission office to pick up some things. President Cleveland was in one of the offices and said "Sister Mayberry, you're still here??? I would have thought you would have been out tracting by now". I told him I was working on it! Then he said he was just kidding. I'm glad he can tease me. That night I was pretty confident that I could train, or at least kind of. Unfortunately, that feeling has once again left.

Anyways, Don and Leah Ann are doing incredible! I know I say that every week, but she are. Leah Ann ordered both of them a quad plus the conference Ensign. Our lesson in Relief Society was on missionary work. She raised her hand and told a little bit of her story. About how she had so many walls built up over the years and that it was the sister's patience in listening and answering her questions that helped her gradually tear them down. I know differently, it was all the Spirit. Recognizing the Spirit has been the biggest miracle/blessing of my mission. That night we talked about baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost. Leah Ann listened to several talks by President Monson and she told us that she learned that baptism isn't a one time thing. She was explaining the principle of covenants to us! I was so impressed. November 9th can't come soon enough! She wrote out some thoughts she's been having the last couple of days, basically it's a testimony.

Summer's baptism on Saturday was wonderful. I was so stressed out that something was going to go wrong, because that's what happened last time. But! Nothing happened and a lot of people showed up actually. Baptisms are a neat thing to watch. Watching people come closer to Christ is the best thing in the world.

The poor elders here now. They got double transferred in and one of them is training. Elder Hymas (the senior companion) has only been in one area is entire mission (we came out together). His head is kind of in the clouds, but he's exactly how I was six weeks ago. It's funny to watch him. Working with the ward lately has been going pretty well. President Cleveland wants us in members homes a lot more and luckily out WML is willing to make phone calls for us.

Kind of a lame e-mail this week, I know. I just don't have a whole lot to say.

October 6

So many miracles the last couple of days....

Wednesday night we went and taught Summer. Her grandpa is a less active. The first couple times we went we didn't even see him. Then we actually got to talk to him for a few minutes. Well we were teaching about tithing, follow the prophet, etc and he came downstairs and sat with us! Then he started teaching with us! I was pretty shocked. Then Summer asked him to say the closing prayer. I didn't think he would. Buuuuuuut...HE DID! I'm really hoping that Summer getting baptized is softening him up.

Thursday we did exchanges. Sister Allen came with me. It was an interesting day. President called and I figured he wanted to talk to Sister Allen, but no he wanted to talk to me. I was driving at the moment so I couldn't, and it took about three hours before I could actually talk to him again. So the entire time I was wondering what he wanted to talk to me about, yes I was quite nervous. More on that later!

We had zone meeting Friday morning. We talked all about working with members. I was way pumped! Unfortunately it's really easy to get full time missionaries pumped up about missionary work, but the members not so much. President Cleveland also wants us to work on using the pamphlets in finding. SO! We went finding afterwards and I actually had a lot of fun. It's pretty easy to get rote in finding, but we mixed it up!

Friday night was girls night! haha...a little different as a missionary. The Lykins had invited us over for dinner, but all her kids at a cross country banquet and her husband when flying, so she just took us out to dinner. Oh yeah!...tender mercy. Right when we walked in "Crush" by David Archuleta started playing. AND the elders are teaching this girl named Giselle. She's 20 and David's sister's friend. She's actually moving out to Murray in November...after she gets baptized. Anyways, yeah hearing that song made my day. We talked a lot about missionary work with her. In preparation for zone meeting we were asked to think of a creative way to work with members. Every ward has a ward mission plan, at least they are supposed. So I thought, why not family missionary plans! Then I was looking in PMG and found out it actually takes about them in there! So we talked with Sis Lykins about creating a mission plan for her family, since they are all about missionary work.

THEN! The day just got even better. We had a lesson with Don and Leah Ann. Jeremy and Carrie were both there. We asked how the reading was, Don is in 4 Nephi and Leah Ann was in Ether! Yes we've been teaching them for only a month. Anyways, then Leah Ann starts a 10 minute monologue about how there is no way a 14 year old boy could have wrote this book on his own, that 3 Nephi was full of "gold nuggets" that answered a ton of her questions. Don told us he didn't sleep because he couldn't put it down. Finally I just clearly asked them if they believed the Book of Mormon was true, they both said yes. Leah Ann told us she felt chills as she was reading. Jeremy then shared that whenever he has doubts about the church, he always goes back to that feeling. Their phone and internet hadn't been working the last couple of days and someone was coming to fix it on Saturday. Don told them they had to come after 2 or not mess with the tv because nothing was going to prevent them from watching conference (we found BYUTV when we were over there on Tuesday). He also said that they were going to turn it up loud and if they neighbors complained he didn't care.
They were pretty excited. I couldn't sleep that night because I was so excited!

The miracles continued. Saturday morning we got to help a non-member move! Ok it's dumb because the elders ALWAYS get asked to do manual service and the sisters never do because they think we wear skirts all the time or something. But the elders weren't available (YES!) A member in our ward as been friends with the family for a long time. They are looking for a church right now and it's between ours and another. So while we were packing up the kitchen we were getting to know her a bit more. She knows a ton of members in town and definitely has raised her family with good morals. We gave her our phone number and told her to call us if she needs anymore help. If she doesn't well call her haha. Anyways I love giving service. Oh and Aaron (the dad) said he has seen us walking around before and thought we were high school students! But we think that was a little sign.

CONFERENCE!!! ahh! So excited, I want to just watch it again. Revelation. It hasn't been until my mission that I have realized how important it is. That's what most of my questions were regarding going into conference. I loved the talk by Elder Maynes about spiritual stamina. We do face difficulties everyday! We have to be spiritually strong in order to receive revelation. I was thinking of it in terms of lifting weights. If you give a weak person 100 pounds to bench, it's going to crush them. You've got to start out small. The same goes for revelation. Heavenly Father isn't going to tell me something that I'm not ready to know or not prepared to act on. Elder McConkie's talk on teaching the gospel was incredible. My favorite part is teaching by the Spirit, obviously. I know when the Spirit is present in lessons if I learn too. The best lessons are when I learn! I know that's not my purpose, but it's a nice little gift. Something I learned from Elder Vinson's talked: In order to use ALL my strength, I need the help of my Heavenly Father. I can't do it on my own. As he was talking the words of a primary song came to my head (I can't remember the name) "He is always near me, thought I may not see Him there". It's so crucial to always remember that and I don't. I also really liked Elder Nelson's; I was expecting him to talk on missionary work, so it did catch me a little off guard. The reason we desire to learn and change is because we are eternal beings; it's who we are. We will never stop being children of God. We have to learn to "bridle our passions" while we are here on earth. Going back to revelation, I won't ever receive revelation if my spirit is not stronger then my body. I could go on, Elder Scott, Elder Holland, President Monson, etc. Anyways, how grateful I am for conference. And mom you're right, how grateful I am for the Ensign.

So transfers are this week. Remember how President called me on Thursday? One of the biggest blessings of my mission have been the opportunity to serve with him. He's incredibly aware of each of his missionaries, at least me. When he first called Sister Allen and was talking to her he said "Sister Mayberry and I are good friends". When I finally was able to talk to him he told me that because of our past phone calls, etc he wanted to personally ask me how I felt about training again. He doesn't want me to feel overwhelmed at all and that he wanted to help me out in any way that he could. I told him I didn't think I was ready, but a missionary is never fully ready to train. We talked for about 10 minutes. He asked me if I wanted to stay in Franklin or train somewhere else. I told him I preferred to stay put. I think I talk about President every week, but it's because he has made a huge impact on my life. He's gotten a million things to do, but he felt like it was necessary to call me personally. The major miracle this weeks was President calling. So yes, I'm staying and training again. I'm glad he gave me a couple days notice because it's given me time to pray and study. I've trained once before and I learned a lot. It was hard acting surprised when we got the call last night. I didn't really say much because I didn't want Sister Francis finding out that I had known for three days what was happening.

I'm pretty nervous, still terrified actually. But I can do it. I don't know why President, or really Heavenly Father thinks I'm capable of fulfilling this assignment, but I know it will but me in a situation where I'll learn the lessons that I need to. I haven't slept much since Thursday. I've been thinking a lot about training and what I need to change about myself. Last time I recognized my weaknesses. I had no problem sharing them with my companion and my leaders. This time around I've got to learn how to overcome those weaknesses and that's going to be hard. Yay for challenges! Just kidding, if life weren't hard I wouldn't learn anything. If my mission was easy then I would come home the same person as when I left.

September 30

Don and Leah Ann! Oh my goodness. So we set a baptismal date for them last week and Don asked if Brother Dorsey could be the one to baptize him. So when we taught them on Tuesday, we brought Brother Dorsey! Right after saying the opening prayer Don turns to Brother Dorsey and asks if he would be the one to baptism him! I literally almost jumped out of my chair! I was so excited. Brother Dorsey is a convert and he shared with them how he came to know the church was true. We also had another awesome lesson with them on Friday. They are already in Helaman and we've been teaching them for like....3 weeks. So solid! Also, jumping ahead. Yesterday our gospel principles class was the best one yet. First, it was a full house. It was an eternal marriage and one of the elders was teaching....wasn't sure how that was going to go. On Friday we had taught Don and Leah Ann about the three degrees of glory and eternal marriage. So actually this lesson was perfect! A couple members of the ward were sharing their testimonies of eternal marriage (they are married). Anyways, then somehow Leah Ann brought up something about the Spirit. This has been the biggest struggle with her. She's reading like a maniac and has been learning a ton, but she wants that answer from the Holy Ghost. Which is awesome! So many people don't search for that enough. Anyways, then the members in the class were able to teach both Don and Leah Ann about recognizing the spirit. Most powerful gospel principles class I have ever been in. Leah Ann felt the Spirit. As we were waiting for third hour to start I could tell she was feeling something. I asked her how she was doing. I don't remember what she said exactly but....they are both moving well on the conversion path.

On Friday we went tracting in Sweetwater. It's a series of lakes about half an hour south of Franklin. I felt like we were hiking! In skirts of course. I loved it...Sister Francis wasn't such a huge fan. That night I also learned I have pretty good driving reflexes. The drive down there is pretty hilly and there are a lot of turns....kind of like driving up to Mt. Baker. Anyways, coming around a corner...BOOM three deer, slammed on the breaks...we were all good! Glad I now know how I can react in a situation like that.

The General Relief Society broadcast was awesome! About two weeks ago or so I was telling Sister Francis that we don't talk about covenants enough in the church. Sure enough, two of the talks were about covenants! My favorite was the one sister (don't remember her name) who said keeping covenants brings us true happiness. Heavenly Father knows EXACTLY what is going to make us happy....even when we can't see it in the moment.

I love fast Sundays. So there's this family in the ward...best member missionaries ever. The dad got up and bore his testimony, then his daughter. She was visiting from college for the weekend and I actually met her back in Seymour because her dad is a member of the high council. Then their son who is a senior got up and share his testimony. Everything was about missionary work, which is a good thing because we asked the ward to fast to find new investigators. Anyways, so towards the end I felt prompted to go up as well. I just shared something quick, something about the miracles I get to see everyday as a missionary. Then after sacrament meeting this girl comes up and just gives me a hug! I asked her if she remembered who I was and she was like "I have never met you before", then I explained how we met. Anyways, this girl is SWEET! She's going to a Catholic private college and she started dating this boy recently. Well he isn't the first boyfriend she's introduced to the gospel. Anyways, he's getting baptized, going to church, etc. Anyways....even though this girl is younger than me, she's such an example! She came to gospel principles and she was talking about how we take celestial marriage for granted, so many people don't have that assurance! I was pretty bummed because we went to her family's house for dinner, but she had already left to go back to Kentucky. I wish I could have been like her when I was in high school....

Last night in my studies I was learning about accountability. It's necessary for everyone to learn this principle. So I continued to think about it this morning. First! Mormon 9:31 says "give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our (me my) imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise" . It goes along with the scripture in D&C that says the Lord chastens those He loves. As I recognize my weaknesses/imperfections I am able to become more wise as I overcome them. But! I wouldn't be able to overcome them if I didn't know what they were. That's why missions are so awesome! Ok going back to accountability. This morning I was thinking of scriptural examples of accountability and I thought of the Brother of Jared, actually I'm in Ether right now in my Book of Mormon reading. So this is what I learned...hopefully you can follow my thoughts. Ether 2:6 "directed continually by the hand of the Lord". From the very beginning the Lord was involved in this story...He didn't confound their language. Then after making the first part of the journey the Brother of Jared gets chastised because "he remembered not to call upon the name of the Lord", he wasn't being accountable. So after repenting, the Lord tells him to "go to work...according to the instructions of the Lord" (v. 16). After he build the ships, he gives an accounting of His work (v. 18). Ok...the best part, v. 24-25. Christ tells the Brother of Jared this is going to be storms, waves, winds, etc as they are crossing the ocean. BUT, He says "I prepare you against these things; for ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea". We cannot make it through trials in life without being prepared by the Lord first. He's given us everything we need, scriptures, church, modern day prophets, covenants, etc. But the Brother of Jared still has a problem, how are they going to see? Christ doesn't give him an answer, He says "what will ye that I should prepare fro you that ye may have light when ye are swallowed up in the depths of the sea"? When I read this...I wasn't thinking about oceans. Rather, the depths of trials. What can Heavenly Father and our Savior do to help us have light when we are in the darkness of tough times in our life? We must recognize specific help we need and then go to Heavenly Father and ask for it. Just like the Brother of Jared told Christ to touch the stones so they could provide light. It goes back to the imperfections. Recognizing our weaknesses so then we can ask for specific strength/guidance to overcome the difficulties in our life....I was pretty excited after studies, still am. Maybe this doesn't seem as revelatory to you as it did to me, hopefully it makes at least a little bit of sense. 

General conference.....so stoked! Man, I don't think I can wait five more days. Hopefully everyone watches it!

September 23rd

One year ago was when I first had the impression to serve a mission, two weeks before conference. Never would I have thought that Sunday night, that exactly a year from today I would already have almost seven months completed of a mission. I think this very easily could have been the fastest/most life changing year of my life. I look back at the person I was a year ago and in some ways I don't even recognize her. Little did I know that changes that would occur to me as embarked on the journey of a lifetime.

So...the primary program yesterday! I realized this was my first time in four years being able to see a primary program (yay for singles wards!). Anyways, I think they sang all of my favorite primary songs. Unfortunately  Don and Leah Ann didn't make it to church which I was really bummed about.

Tuesday we had zone conference in Martinsville. I learned so much. We talked about D&C 4:2. If I want to reach my full potential as a missionary I have to be socially (heart), physically (strength), spiritually (might), and mentally (mind) healthy. That's incredibly difficult, but not impossible. My favorite part of zone conference is the departing testimonies. Even know, I feel like I'm never going to be at the point of these elders going home. One of the elders told us that every decision we make should be based on love and that we should experience God's love each day.

Unfortunately, the end of this week was pretty hard. So instead of sharing stories that happened, I'm going to tell you about some of the things I've been learning.

From Alma 26:22 I learned that the purpose of revelation is to bring souls unto repentance. The Restoration of the gospel allowed us to perform saving ordinances, that's repentance. Personal revelation I receive allows me to recognize weaknesses and what I need to work on to become more like Heavenly Father.

Yesterday I was studying about faith and how it leads to miracles. I was lead to Alma 32: 41. Part of it says "looking forward to the fruit thereof". I've never noticed this before. There are fruits of conversion and we are able to look for them. Yes normally Alma 32 is thought of the faith or testimony chapter, but both of those lead to conversion. Some of the fruits of conversion are desired to do good, not rebelling against God, and being filled with love. These are attributes I must look for in investigators as I teach them, but I must also look for them in myself. I've also been thinking about D&C 97:8 "observe every covenants by sacrifice-yea, every sacrifice. Sacrifice. I wish I knew more about it. Covenants allow us to become more like Heavenly Father and our Savior. I was reading "The Challenge to Become" My Elder Oaks this morning. This was what I learned. God can give me everything He has, but in order to become like Him I must do it for myself. I must learn what He learned and live as He lives. "The gospel of Jesus Christ is the plan by which we can become what the children of God are supposed to become". We must make sacrifices in order to keep covenants. I've been listening to a lot of talks by Elder Holland. I've noticed a them in a lot of them. He talks about the trials and experiences we all must go through in order to become like Christ. We have to go through some suffering on this earth. There is no way we can ever become like God if we don't experience a degree of what He went through. Salvation isn't easy. I think I tell myself this everyday. I wish I could adequately write/describe what I've learned, but it's not coming out the way I think about it in my head. Brad Wilcox wrote an article in this months Ensign about grace. Read it. I've listened to the entire talk, and maybe I've already mentioned this before, but in it he says we aren't earning Heaven, but learning Heaven. Some people I meet think we are trying to earn Heaven by doing good works. No. We are becoming like Christ and that takes work. That's frustrating because people don't get it. In ward council we talk about less actives who have fallen away. Usually it's because they don't want to put in the work that it requires to be a disciple of Christ. The gospel challenges us to live and become like Christ.

I got a letter from Hermana Ashley Miller on Saturday. It was just what I needed. She talked about how if these are the best 18 months of my life, I have failed. Because  mission should be the best 18 months FOR my life. Yeah, I've heard that quote before. Honestly, I think thank goodness this isn't supposed to be the best 18 months of my life because then I really don't want to live the rest of my life haha! Anyways, so I feel like it's ok if I don't love every moment of my mission, or even every day. What's important is that I'm more on the road of conversion than I was before, and that will bring me happiness later in life.

Back in July when I called President Cleveland the first time, after talking to him for maybe 10 minutes or so he said "I sense you are a pretty sensitive person". My first though was to be a bit offended because when I think of a sensitive person I think of an emotional unstable girl who cries all the time....unfortunately that has been me a couple of days out here. Anyways, I think you may have told me that same thing more or dad. During lunch I read a couple of letters from July. I started crying. Before Sis Francis could noticed I went into the bathroom. So I knelt down and began to pray. I begged God that He would soften my heart. As I sat there kneeling on the bathroom floor...I realized I am sensitive. Maybe it was God telling me, I don't really know. But I am. I think back on certain times of my mission, especially my first transfer, and realize that yeah I am pretty sensitive. But instead of viewing it as a negative thing, I've got to figure out how to use it as a strength.

I sense this week is going to be pretty hard. So extra prayers would be much appreciated. I have a lot of weaknesses and sometimes they prevent me from being happy. Other people also have weaknesses and part of this life is learning to forgive.

I love you all a lot! Thank you so much for everything that you do!

Love, Kyla

September 16

Tuesday and Wednesday was about 98 degrees plus way humid. When we were outside Sister Francis and I would talk about how cold we were just to take our minds of the fact that we were actually dying of heat. All we ate that night for dinner were blizzards because we were too hot to eat anything  else. Tuesday night we taught Don and Leah Ann again. Luckily there daughter was also there (she's married to a returning less active). She even listened and commented as we were talking! We're hoping that since her parents are meeting with us she will be more likely to as well. So their grandson's name is Jonathon and he was also there. I think he's about 3 or 4. When we sat down on the couch he asked if he could sit on his laps, unfortunately we had to tell him no. Then as we were leaving he said "I love missionaries" and then processed to ask his mom if he could go home with the missionaries. At least someone loves us! haha. Don and Leah didn't come to church yesterday, they didn't make as much progress last week as they did the first week we met with them. So hopefully we'll be able to help them more out this week.

On Thursday we met Dale the hillbilly. We knocked on his door and he came out and we sat on his porch and talked to him. While trying to teach him about the Restoration, we also discussed how he had just gotten out of jail, aliens, big foot, and who knows what else. There are weird people here. But he seemed pretty interested in reading from the Book of Mormon. It was just probably one of the weirdest contacts I have ever had. Oh yeah Thursday morning it rained; my favorite thing to do is tract in the rain! Sister Francis thinks I'm crazy.

Sister Francis is officially attached to me, like she suffers from separation anxiety haha. Usually she finishes making her lunch before me and goes into our room to eat (we still don't have any tables in our apartment). Anyways, not even 30 seconds after being in there is hear "Sister Mayberry will you come in here?!" Then I tell her no haha. Anyways, we are getting along pretty good. There are some differences just because we were trained by different people.

Friday we had a sweet lesson! So Thursday we tracted into Katie, a young mother and she invited us back the next day so we could talk to her husband. Jim teaches religion at Franklin College here in town. I didn't really know what to expect because he's a religion teacher and all. AT first it started out a bit like Q&A but we ended up teaching most of the Restoration lesson. At one point he asked me what I felt like was the most attractive thing about our church. I told him about the importance of modern revelation. I've been studying revelation a lot this last week or so. It's so vital not only to be a successful missionary but also for eternal life. Somewhere in PMG it talks about how exaltation cannot be achieved with revelation. Sometimes I think revelation is this big, momentous action or something. In reality, it's simply communication with Heaven. Anyways, back to Jim. I think he was really impressed when we told him how important it was that anyone receive an answer about the Church. Currently he's trying to decide which religion he wants to join, so we caught him at a good time. No return appointment unfortunately, but he said we could stop by again sometime.

So this week....a lot of frustrating moments. Originally when we got here we decided we wouldn't geographically split the area and that both sets of us would just go for it. Unfortunately the elders got a call Saturday night from the ZLs saying we needed to split it. Bummer! So after church yesterday we spent about an hour talking with the Bishop, elders quorum president, etc. trying to figure out how to split the ward. There really was no good way to do it. The actual city of Franklin sits on the northern side of the borders and then there are a bunch of smaller communities down south. Because we have a full time car and the elders don't, they thought it would be best to give us a pretty small portion of Franklin and then everything else. I'm excited to be able to go and work in the other parts, but now we have a mileage issue. So who knows! It's just a tad frustrating because the work we were doing is now all in the elder's part. So it's almost like we've got to start from square one again. Opening areas is so hard! Luckily I just heard from Sister Jones and Seymour is doing awesome! They brought some new investigators that we found there at the end to church last week. I just have to remind myself that opening an area does take time. It took almost four months in Seymour before I felt like I was really doing anything. It's kind of hard when you here about success an area is having AFTER you have left, but that's part of missionary work.

We have a ward BBQ on Saturday. I hate being social haha. It's still so hard for me. Originally I was really excited because I knew it would be an opportunity to get to know more ward members, then once we arrived I remembered that in order to get to know people I have to actually talk to them! We did alright. This one guy in the ward calls us the sister chicks...I told Sister Francis we should get shirts. There are a lot of converts out here and some of them told us they were tracting stories, so not to give up! Sister Francis is having a hard time knocking because she personally hasn't seen anything come from it. I told her most of the investigators I had in Seymour were people we found on our own. So I just have to help her see that it can go somewhere.

This week I've really struggled with feeling successful. Unfortunately I still go back to my first transfer when we had 5 progressing investigators and 15 member presents each week. I get so frustrated because I just don't know if we are using our time effectively. In some ways I already feel like I'm running out of time, but I just don't know how to use it. Then it goes back to receiving revelation. Missions are completely ran on revelation. Successful missionaries know how to receive it and apply it. I'm still not there...yet. We are just going to have to get more creative because our area has changed now. Anyways, I'm also going to focus on having more effective studies in the morning. If my studies aren't effective then neither is my day.

To end on a more positive note, I love sharing my testimony. The best moments are when I bear my testimony because then I know I am being effective. I think I'm going to struggle for the rest of my mission, which is good because than I will never feel comfortable with myself. It will allow me to continue to grow each day.

September 9

Tuesday we tried stopping by some less actives in the ward..no one was home. Story of a missionaries life. But we got a headquarter referral that morning so we stopped by that night. Don and Leah Ann are the coolest people ever. Their son-in-law is a returning LA in the ward who the elders are working with. They have started to ask him a lot of questions and finally just requested for missionaries to come and see them. During the lesson Leah Ann was telling us it was going to be hard for her to change because her sister is a Pentecostal minister and she will get really angry once they tell her they are joining the church. She was talking like she was already planning on getting baptized! They both were very anxious to read from the Book of Mormon, they asked for two so they could each have their own copy. It's weird, from the minute I met her, Leah Ann seems so familiar; I can't quite put my finger on it. I don't know if it's because she reminds me of someone else or what. At the end of the lesson we committed them both to baptism and we were one our way, two very excited sister missionaries.

Wednesday we spent a lot of time just walking and talking to whoever we saw. At one point Sister Francis asked me why I don't pray with everyone. I told her because I don't like to do things just so it can count as an other lesson (definition: teach a principle, leave a commit, and end with a prayer). So said she likes to because a lot of people have been impressed by someone so young wanting to pray with them, but that's never happened to me. The next person we saw was this guy in his garage. When we walked up to him I didn't think he would be too interested. We ended up talking for a bit and even prayed with him. When we were done he said it was sweet of us to prayer for him and that we had enlightened him. Missionary purpose fulfilled! After lunch we had made plans to see a couple of people and as we were getting out of the car we saw this woman out on her porch. We ended up talking to her for about an hour and half and taught her the entire Restoration. The elders had approached her a couple weeks before and we talked to them later that night at dinner and I guess she wouldn't even take a family history card from them haha. Sometimes, repetition is the key. Summer is probably the smartest 11 year old I know; she's the one getting baptized in October. She reads the Book of Mormon way more than I did at her age; she even has it downloaded on her kindle so she can read it at school. Basically, she just teaches us at the lessons.

Thursday morning was a little rough. I was falling asleep during studies (I haven't slept that great because I've been sick) and we didn't have much luck finding during the morning. That night we went and saw a less active with a member. Sis Johnson (the active member) is probably the coolest person I have ever met. She texted us before the lesson to tell us to wear something that could get dirty...I wasn't really sure what we would be getting ourselves into. The LA we saw hasn't been to church in a long time because of some difficult life circumstances and she's been hurt by ward members. I wasn't sure if we were really doing anything by being there. On the way home Sis Johnson get a text from the lady we had just seen thanking us for coming and said that the sisters always bring a special spirit. Yay!

Ok Friday night...we go to Don and Leah Ann's house again. Second lessons are always hard to plan for because A. they may not be there. B. they may have not read anything from the Book of Mormon. C. they may have read a little bit. D. they may have read a lot. Well Don was already in 2 Nephi and Leah Ann had read a good junk of 1 Nephi...twice. We were pretty shocked! We reviewed with them about the Book of Mormon and talked a lot about church. We knew church would be very different for Leah Ann because she was raise Pentecostal (I've heard some pretty wild things about that church). They were pretty sure they would be able to come but didn't know if they could come for all three house. Don has diabetes and recently had one of his legs amputated so he's still recovering. But they seemed pretty set on coming.

Saturday we went down to Edinburgh to see some LA families. The first one we tried wasn't home, so then we walked over to see the other one and talked to some people on the way...no one was really interested. The family we ended up seeing was super nice! Carey (the dad) was outside cleaning the BBQ when we walked up. He immediately warmed up and invited us inside and introduced us to his wife and one daughter. He's a life long member and she was baptized about 20 years ago. They've had a lot of phases of inactivity. They started coming back to church about 2 years ago and was even sealed about a year ago. Their one daughter went to EFY and had an incredible experience. Then, they just stopped coming. There are some reasons why, but Sister Francis and I have decided to just forget about them and focus on teaching them doctrine. We don't really know if they are willing to change or what, but we are going to try! We brought them up in ward council yesterday and the ward wants us to work with them. He's originally from Hawaii and so they invited us back to eat Hawaiian food with them! Because I've met so many less active people, I've realized how important it is to always be kind in the church and to watch comments we say to people. Yes, people choose to be offended, but we can also be mindful of the things we say.

We got out of ward council right before sacrament and I saw Don and Leah Ann in the hall! I was so excited! Easiest investigators to get to church. I think Leah Ann was a little overwhelmed with everything, but Don was really enjoying it. After sacrament and then after Sunday School Leah Ann would ask Don if he was still up for staying longer, and each time he said yes! After everything was over I asked him how he liked the third hour (because obviously we weren't with him). He said he really enjoyed it and they talked a little bit about the priesthood. It's weird, when we have investigators at church I'm always concerned at what is going to be said. I've realized that a lot about what we talked about is very foreign to other people and can be really confusing. I taught gospel principles because the WML had to go home. Luckily it was only on obedience so I was able to keep things pretty simple for Don and Leah Ann. Because we've only taught them twice there is a lot they don't know. But I'm so excited for them!!!!!!! Ah they have been such a blessing this week. Things are still kind of slow, finding still isn't my favorite.

So this week President Cleveland is having us write him a scripture that gives us hope. Last week in district meeting Elder Woodhouse shared Romans 8:18. I've read versus 16 and 17 a lot because we share it with people all the time, but I guess I've never thought to keep reading :). Anyways, if you don't have your scriptures handing while reading this, I'll expound. Paul is talking about how the suffering we go through right now don't compare to the glory we will experience after this life. I've thought a lot about what eternal life is going to be life, obviously I have no clue. However, what I do know is that everything we go through while we are on earth is worth it. Hope is Christ is what keeps us going no matter how terrible things are right now. One day, we'll have a fulness of joy (3 Nephi 28:10) and this life, we'll I'm sure we'll view it differently.

Just as a side note...in the last month of so I've had a lot of dreams about going home, I'm not really sure why. This week I had a dream that you (mom and dad) forgot that I was coming home.  So somehow I got home from the airport by myself, came home (actually it was our house in Oregon) and the two of your were just taking a nap like a normal Sunday afternoon! You were quite surprised to see me haha. So you better not do that! Anyways, Sister Francis has helped me to see small miracles everyday. Sometimes I get impatient and I just want to see huge changes here in Franklin, but that's not how the Lord's work works. Missionaries learn a lot of Christ-like attributes out here, patience, faith, diligence, charity, humility, obedience. Good thing I still have a year to learn it all!

I didn't take any picture this week...so Sister Donaldson sent me this one last week, flash back to the first transfer!

September 4

Last Tuesday was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. Because I was in YSA for only 6 weeks I didn't really have time to get too attached to people. I met a lot of incredible people in Seymour and it was really hard to say goodbye. Bro Rollie was so sweet. I asked him if he was ever going to become a Mormon, he said he didn't know. He was just glad he got to say goodbye to me because he didn't get to to Sister Fullmer. Seeing the Gasaway's was really good. We talked a lot about the Book of Mormon and they had questions about how transfer worked. Courtney asked us to sing a primary song for Macy. Neither Sister Jones or I really wanted to, but we sang "I am a Child of God". It was like a repeat of the MTC all over again. It was a neat moment, Shannon said we didn't sound too bad. When I got in the car I almost started crying. This family means so much to me and it hurts that I wasn't able to see them get baptized. Wednesday morning Courtney sent me this text "thank you for everything you have given our family a sense of renewed hope that which can only be given through the gospel of Jesus Christ. You have become a great friend to us and our family, we will miss you dearly. We wish you the best of luck on the next leg of your journey. Keep in touch". That text made the last 4 1/2 months worth it. One day, they'll be members. I got their e-mail so I can keep in contact with them! We said goodbye to the Magellon's really quick. It's incredible to see the progress she had made. When I first arrived she didn't have a testimony of the Book of Mormon. Now she can get baptized in probably just a few weeks. Some of my most precious moments have been reading with her and her kids. I bore my testimony right before we left and I actually started crying. I don't think that kids knew what to think haha. I had a lot of hard days in Seymour and that's why I was so excited to leave, but when it came down to it I was really sad to go. I made a lot of mistakes, but I also learned a ton. I can say that I definitely left the area better than I found it. I was able to help plant a lot of seeds and I left Sister Jones with a couple of really solid potentials.

Tuesday night I only got about 4 hours of sleep. I woke up around 2:30 and just couldn't go back to sleep. I hate transfer week. I still haven't caught up on sleep. Transfer meetings are so weird, I don't know how to describe them.

So a couple of weeks ago President Cleveland told me he would put me with an experienced sister, it didn't happen. I didn't really expect it to either because there are only about 12 sisters who are older than me. Anyways, as you already know I'm done in Franklin. Sister Francis and I are opening a second area here (there are already elders here). I'm excited for a second opportunity to open an area. I learned so much of what not to do in Seymour. It's been a couple of slow days. Anyways, one of the assistants came up to us after transfers and said this was his favorite ward to serve in, but every missionary gets baptisms. So the pressure is on! We got the warmest welcome from the ward. The sisters are stocked to have sister missionaries. When we got here Wednesday night the Relief Society president brought us over BAGS of food (I'll attach a picture). I don't think we are ever going to eat it.

So the first couple of days we have just been adjusting. On Thursday we did weekly planning with the elders to just go over things. Afterwards we were in the car getting our GPS together so we could find our way home. The elders had already left on their bikes. They were just about the leave the parking lot when a car pulled up and started talking to them. Immediately Elder Callison looked at us and just pointed. Sister Francis and I just started laughing. It ended up being the Bishop, but the elders think they are just going to get forgotten about. They said they are never going to be able to get members to lessons anymore because we are just going to take all of them. Oh we've also had dinner appointments with members since Wednesday haha. They gave us one of their investigators. She has MS and her two teenage kids are RC. I think the elders are tired of teaching her and don't really know where else to go with her. We also have another new investigator already. She's an 11 year old whose grandparents are members. She's been attending church for forever but has never gotten baptized. She turns 12 in November so we are going to teach her so she can get baptized before her birthday. Sister Francis and I are both pretty excited. Oh yeah my companion! She's from Utah, 19, been out 3 months. We are already getting along pretty good. I'm so glad I'm not training haha. It puts a lot less pressure on me.

The elders had three baptisms on Saturday so those were nice to attend. The rest of our day was spent finding. I really like Franklin already. It's bigger than Seymour, but still has a little bit of that small town feel. There are trees everywhere! I was nervous I was going to get transferred to the city where there weren't a lot of trees during fall. That's not the case though!

Sunday was awesome! Seriously the best ward ever. EVERYONE came up and told us how excited they are for sisters. I guess we are the first set in about 15 or so years. I will now probably be the ward pianist. There are barely an RS sisters who play and I got asked to play yesterday. We also got to bear our testimonies in Sacrament. It was neat, as I was standing up there I realized I wasn't really nervous, at least not like I used to be. Remember how I was always terrified to get in front of people? That's mostly gone now. It's incredible to see how much I've changed. Repentance and conversion is something I've been thinking a lot about lately. From day to day I don't seem much different, but when I look back, oh man!

I've had some very positive days here in Franklin. Luckily it's cooled off today which is great because we don't have any solid plans.

Yesterday I stepped inside a department store for the first time in six months! I was joking around with Sis Francis that I wouldn't be able to handle it and that I would have an emotional breakdown haha. I got some new clothes. We also played volleyball with the elders yesterday, with a dodge-ball. We made it work.

Oh President Hilton is in our ward. He's one of the counselors in the mission presidency. He's going to be so much help. He met with us and the elders before church and gave us a ton of part member families to try. He really knows how to do missionary work and I'm excited to be able to serve around him. He's been very good to us, calling us almost everyday to see if we needed anything.

I'm way excited about the transfers. This week will probably also be a little slow, it always is opening a new area. I'm very grateful for the second chance that I have been given. I've still got so much to learn here.

August 26

Today marks exactly 6 months since leaving home!!...in some ways the time has gone by incredibly fast and in some ways it seems like I've been out here for an eternity. Oh! This sister is getting transferred!!!!! More on that later, but I'm way excited. And before I forget, I won't be e-mailing next Monday because it's Labor Day.

Anyways last Monday night Sister Clark (we did another exchange) taught this guy in the park. He's Hispanic (obviously)...anyways, it was an awesome lesson. He has a lot of questions and it looking for direction in this life. We committed him to baptism, but no date. During the lesson he asked that if Christ was perfect, why did he get angry and force all the tax collectors and such out of the temple? He asked "isn't that a sin?" Then I got to tell him my incredibly awesome definition of sin (not really). Sin is doing anything against the will of God. So as a missionary, there are things that are a sin for me that aren't for another person who isn't a missionary. Anyways, I learned a lot from answering his question. My favorite lessons are when I feel like I'm learning along with the investigator. We are seeing him again tonight which I'm really excited for.

Sister Clark helps me to see miracles in the work. We had an incredible day on Tuesday. We just talked with everyone and not at them, but with them. That night Sister Jones and I taught another guy on his porch. He's in his 20's and he approached us one day a few weeks ago. At one point I looked up into the clouds and just thought about Heavenly Father (yeah not totally focused on the investigator which was kind of a mistake on my part). We talked with him a lot about our Heavenly Father. Nothing is better than testifying. Sometimes when I'm teaching, I feel God working through me. I'm grateful I'm learning how to teach people because it is such an important skill. I'm grateful I can be an instrument in His hands. Tuesday I felt like His servant and there's no better feeling in the world. Unfortunately, so far, those types of days have been few and far between.

We've been in contact with this girl for several weeks. Her parents are both less-active members in North Vernon and she left home because she isn't getting along with her mom. She's living over here in Seymour. Well she had a baby last week and we stopped by to see her on Wednesday. It broke my heart to see the type of environment this baby is going to be raised up in unless something changes. She was sleeping when we went over there. She's too perfect. All I wanted to do was take her and put her somewhere else. It provides me more motivation to help her mother, so that one day this little girl can have the blessing of the gospel in her life.

So on Friday we went to follow up with a potential but she wasn't there, typical story. We had made plans to go see a couple of other people but I felt like we shouldn't leave yet. So I told Sister Jones we were going to knock a few doors. I think we was pretty confused. So on the third door we knock, no one answers, and then a car pulls in the drive way. I absolutely HATE this scenario, it's so awkward. Anyways, this lady gets out of her car and we start talking to her. She couldn't really talk to us then because someone had just driven a car through her shed in her backyard. But we set up an appointment for the next day! After we stopped talking to her, I turned to Sister Jones and said "we can leave now" with a smile on my face. The lesson with her the next day went really well. She asked to borrow a copy of the Book of Mormon before we even offered it to her. The sisters have another appointment with her Wednesday night.

We had a last minute zone meeting on Friday to talk about working with members. Oh yeah!! We went to Texas Roadhouse afterwards, by my request. I ate so many rolls I wasn't even hungry to my actual meal. It was a little difficult to keep the elders in line....sometimes I wonder about 18 year old missionaries haha.

Ok....misconception number one in missionary work. Missionaries do missionary work and they find people to baptize through tracting.

WRONG!!!!

Members are missionaries. They find new investigators and then missionaries teach them because they have been set apart, have the authority, etc. Unfortunately changing the mindset of members takes a lot of time and it can only be done one at a time. We taught a member family on Sunday. I was totally honest with them and said that if they don't like having a small ward they need to invite their friends to learn about the church so they can get baptized. If you want a bigger ward, do something about it! You can't force people to move into the ward but you can invite the people you know. Ok I'm done.

Church was weird...haha. I hated not knowing if I was actually going to get transferred. I had a pretty good idea that I would be leaving, but didn't know for sure. Bro Crail came to church! I don't know if you remember anything about him. They are a part member family. Sister Fullmer and I taught them a few times but then we stopped seeing them because they wouldn't keep any commitments. I think my boldness about coming to church finally got to him because he agreed to get a ride (before he refused to get a ride from anyone). We talked to him for a little bit after church and he said he would come next week. He told me that he hoped I would die in Seymour; I told him it wasn't happening because I still had a year left and that would mean I spent 11 our of 12 transfers here. I was just so glad he finally came!

So this week I was listening to a talk by Elder Bednar called "Pray Always". He explained how before the temporal creation, God had created everything spiritually. Our morning prayers should be the spiritual creation before our temporal day. I still don't exactly know what that means, but I've been thinking a lot about it. Prayer is something that I'm really trying to understand more and my relationship with my Heavenly Father. Sometimes He feels so far away, but then I read from the scriptures and I begin to feel better. I also listed to a talk about grace by Brad Wilcox. He compared grace to talking piano lessons. A mother will pay for a piano and the lessons for her child. She asks that her child learn to play. When the child accepts the gift that she has provided, they don't pay the mother back. Learning the piano doesn't pay for the cost of the piano or the lessons. That's how the atonement works. We don't pay back Christ when we repent and access the enabling power of the atonement, we are simply accepting the gift that He has given us. That's something else I've been pondering a lot.

So transfers...I feel kind of bad that I'm so excited to leave. But let's be honest, this place kind of has some bad memories for me. Sister Jones is training; she's pretty nervous. I told her she's going to get a visa waiter so they can teach all the Hispanics! It will be sad to say goodbye to some people though. Unlike in YSA, I was actually here long enough to develop relationships with some people. But that's missionary life. I'm so grateful for a new start though. I've learned a ton these last 4 1/2 months and I wouldn't trade them for the world, but they've been incredibly hard. I'm excited to apply what I've learned in a new area.

Have I ever told you about the bugs in Indiana??? So gross. Mosquitoes everywhere and there are big bugs that I've never seen in my life. First picture is a bug that joined Sister Clark and I for daily planning...I may have actually screamed when I saw it haha. The second one is a bug we saw last night. The other pictures are our district picture (they all came out blurry) and Texas Roadhouse.