tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148345466921540802024-03-19T05:31:09.383-07:00The Adventures of Sister WhitcombSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-55992774584231483532016-08-16T14:36:00.000-07:002017-10-22T14:37:37.863-07:00Elder Mervyn B. Arnold <blockquote style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" type="cite">
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<span style="color: white;">G'DAY!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Guess where I just came back from? THE OUTBACK!! Hahaha just kidding, our wonderful member Valissa took us to the Zoo!! The San Diego Zoo! She is such a saint and I just LOVE her!!! So that was soo fun and I'll defiantly be sending pictures soon! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">But this week my life changed. How do I even begin. I guess I'll just start off by saying that we had a Mission Tour where one of the general authorities of our church comes and visits. So we had the privilege of having Elder Mervyn B. Arnold and his wife. He has changed my life, not just my mission, but my life. I don't even know how to express it, I just have a desire to live in a way that the spirit will always be with me. And when he came, I really came to know that God loves me and he is truly trying to express it to me in soo many ways!! So they split the mission tour up into 2 days so half the mission goes on the first day and the other half the next day. But on the first day we had Mission Leadership council after the first session. As we all walked in, boom SPIRIT. It got so serious so quickly, but a good serious! And honestly first impression of Elder Arnold was I was so intimidated. His eyes just STARE into your soul. Really though, and I remember he called on me to answer the simplest question ever but my eye sight started to go blury and I spit something out that I don't even remember!! Hahaha I can laugh at it now but wow, he is a man of God. And before we were about to close he stopped it and said, "I can feel some doubt in the room, we aren't leaving until all the doubt is cast out." HOW DID HE KNOW??? It was some intense stuff he was asking us to do and I know that only by the power of God he knew that. At one point he looked at me and my companion in the eyes and said, "I want all of you to know that you are worthy to be here." Instant tears, I knew that wasn't just coming from him, but it was coming from God. I couldn't help but to walk out of that meeting in tears! It was such a relief to hear that I was worthy. Not that I ever thought I wasn't, but doubt always creeps in and Elder Arnold came at the perfect timing! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">And do you know what was also God sent that day? Before we headed off to MLC we were weekly planning and during our lunch I felt prompted we needed to go talk to someone on Midland rd. So we drive over and start walking, all of a sudden this car pulls over about 500 ft away and I see this woman jump out and start running to us yelling, "SISTERS!" Right as I heard the voice I knew it was SUZIE PILKINGTON!!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!! One of my old and most dear companions!!!!! Man did it just boost me to see her and hug her and hold her tight! What a relief and a way God showed me that he knew I was there and he knew I needed love. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">And throughout that day countless of people texted us saying how much we were appreciated and needed and we went to go buy dinner really quick before a power hour and a member hopped up and paid it for us! The little things, it really is the little things! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">And then Thursday happened. So much revelation to be had! Elder Arnold talked about many things but he just made me want to be a better person, to be really strict on what I watch and listen to when I get home. To strictly obey the prophets counsel. And he and his wife just love each other so much, something to work for. But a cool moment was when I got to accompany Sister Carlson while she sang, "Consider the Lilies of the field." Beautiful, he then had her sing by herself and me play by myself. And let's get one thing straight I didn't have the melody at all but when a general authority tells you to play a verse by yourself you do it. Did I mess up? Yes. Was I embarrassed? NO. A great theme throughout the tour was to never be embarrassed, it rubbed off. Moral of the story, things can sound beautiful by themselves, but together, masterpieces happen! Just like us and the spirit, need to work together to create a masterpiece! But honestly I don't know how to write down everything what I learned but I did have the privilege of being interviewed one on one with him. That was very special and very sacred and something only the Zone Leaders and Sister Training leaders got to do. I go in and sit down and he just reads me from head to toe. It made me feel good but then he also told me something he was worried about for after the mission, a good concern to have, not one to worry about right now but I did not see it coming. He is a wise man and I defiantly took his counsel to heart!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">And D&C 123:17, my new motto! Elder Arnold, he is a good man. And he came to our Stake Conference this weekend too! We were combined with PQ and it's where the official changes were made. Another spiritual journey and it was one where 3 of our investigators came!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<wbr></wbr>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<wbr></wbr>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">This week was just full of tender mercies! Do you want to hear another one? On Friday as we were driving to our dinner appointment we got a call from Rodrigo. He told us that Mia was coming into town and that she wanted to meet with us!!!!!!! WHAT? CRAZINESS!! She was apparently in town for a funeral and came down just for an hour to see us! She is the sweetest girl ever and one of my dearest friends! I miss her a lot but I know it's where the Lord needs her. She has a rock solid testimony and it made me so happy to hear her say how much she loves this church! I love Mia Moore. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">And I love having the spirit with me always. Last Tuesday we got to teach Sarah, who is awesome and she found the church she is going to in Missouri when she moves! Love her! We met with Jason and Nick who are just as genuine as ever! They went above and beyond their reading assignments and they met a ton of people on Sunday. We are going to see them again tonight and I am soo excited! :) They just fit right in! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nick and Jason with our member Tori. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: white;">And then we have started teaching this YSA named Josh. He sadly does not have a home recently. But he is really good at feeling the spirit and is on the right track to getting back on his feet. He also came to church and loved it! Who wouldn't? It's such a great thing! We will see him again tonight. We may not be teaching a lot of people but everyone we are teaching is willing to keep commitments, to go above and beyond the commitments in fact and are just ready for the fullness of this gospel. I'm excited for them!!!!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">And my favorite person I gave The Book of Mormon to this week is Tom. We were at the Ramona Car Show contacting people and while my companion is trying to answer a mans questions I see this other guy sitting down next to him and start to talk to him. His eyes were so kind and when I gave him The Book of Mormon it shocked him a little but he was so honored! A very humble man. He wasn't quite ready for missionaries but he has the best gift God could ever give him! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Another cool miracle happened when we were trying to contact a referral from some Sisters. And before we go over we try street contacting this guy who apparently is a member! We ask him if he knows his neighbor who is apparently interested in the gospel? He didn't but he brought out Sister Walker who did know them! She offered to go over with us. IT WAS AWESOME! We knock on the door and this woman sees us and kind of grumpily says hello but when she sees her neighbor she just lights up! We were looking for her son who wasn't home but Sister Walker asks her if she'd be interested in learning more about the gospel! AND THE MOM SAID YES!!!! So cool! She said she's at a point in her life where she needs change and she loves how happy Sister Walker is! So cool! We left her with a Book of Mormon and a commitment to read and pray about it. We are excited for the Family Ward Sisters to go over! :) </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">The spirit literally guides me where ever I go and if I feel as if I've missed something really important I turn around. It happened yesterday where we talked to a group of YSA and offered them service or asked if they knew anyone that needed any. They declined and made sure we didn't step over their property lines. As we walked away further and further I just regretted not telling them what we share. I asked my companion if she thought we should go back, she didn't. But as we kept walking further and further I knew we had to, so we did. And I knew that I would have to take the lead on it. We walk back and they are still there but they don't see us. I mustered all the courage that I had and blurted, "HELLO!" One guy came over and I didn't even know what to say so I just threw our the words, "We are missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we share a message about Jesus Christ." He then told us he wasn't interested but walking away I just felt this load lifted from me. I knew I had followed a prompting from God and I knew that I just got denied for my Savior Jesus Christ. What an honor. I would do it a thousand times more! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I hope you all get to do it too! It's such a joy! I love you all but more importantly your Heavenly Father loves you!!! :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Love, Sister Whitcomb</span></div>
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-63134159256225900822016-08-09T14:34:00.000-07:002017-07-26T14:49:23.436-07:00Rejoice! Again I say REJOICE!<blockquote style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" type="cite">
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Has this week been a joy? YES! Has it dealt with a lot of growth? YES! I love being a missionary, I love the people we get to meet and love. I have become close with so many people.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And that is why this week it was so hard to receive a certain phone call. It was on Thursday after our glorious exchange with the La Jolla Sisters, (I'll talk about that soon. IT WAS AWESOME!!!) and we were teaching an amazing recent convert, Westin. We were trying to continue with the lesson, but this person kept on calling and calling. The spirit told me to pick up the phone. I looked and it was my favorite Australian! As soon as I got on the phone and heard Sister Purcell's voice, I knew something was wrong. So Westin allowed us to step outside and I asked her what was going on. She then went on to tell me that our dearly beloved friend and loved one, Stacey English, had passed away. What a shock to me, I instantly broke down. We cried and cried. But my lovely former companion told me we needed to continue on. She told me I had a lesson to teach and she had service to perform. But after she hung up I could only just sit there and cry and cry and cry. Sister Stirland was a saint. And I'm so glad I was at a lesson with Westin when I received the news because those hugs (from the females of course) were heaven sent. I think I cried even more. One of them even looked me in the eye, and I knew they were speaking from our loving Heavenly Father, telling me that everything was going to get better. And it did. But of course not right away. In the midst of my many tears I decided very quickly that I needed a blessing and that it needed to be from our loving Bishop, Bishop Tengberg. And I don't think it was a coincidence that that same night we were going to the Temple with Mia for the first time. I wouldn't of wanted to of been in another place.<br />It's amazing how Heavenly Father helped me remain happy and truly joyful when Mia was in the Temple. I love her so much and it filled my heart with joy that she was there. But not just her, Stacey as well. As soon as I sat down with the Bishop and my companion for the blessing and he asked me what was going on. I just couldn't hold it in. During the blessing Heavenly Father told me that the pain will always be there. It always will be but it will be overcome with joy. And it has. I have found joy that Heavenly Father would allow me to teach such a wonderful daughter of God like her, that he would allow me to strengthen my testimony in the gospel and especially the priesthood during the teaching process. Stacey is a miracle. I want all of you to know that. She is a miracle. And even though I will miss her dearly, just as it said in the blessing that I received, that my reunion with her will be joyous. I know she physically is perfect, that she is happy and that she is at home. I couldn't explain it better then The Book of Mormon itself:<br />Alma 40:11-12</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="m_5112065254673850009_11" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </a><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11 </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100001" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Now, </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100002" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">concerning </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100003" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100004" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">state</span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100005" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <wbr></wbr>of </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100006" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100007" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">soul </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100008" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">between </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100009" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">death </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100010" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100011" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><wbr></wbr>the </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100012" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">resurrection—Behold, </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100013" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">it </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100014" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ha<wbr></wbr>s </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100015" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">been </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100016" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">made </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100017" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">known </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100018" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">unto </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100019" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">me </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100020" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">by </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100021" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a<wbr></wbr>n </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100022" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">angel, </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100023" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">that </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100024" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100025" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">spirits </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100026" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">of </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100027" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a<wbr></wbr>ll </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100028" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">men, </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100029" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">as </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100030" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">soon </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100031" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">as </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100032" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">they </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100033" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">are </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100034" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">de<wbr></wbr>parted </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100035" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">from </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100036" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">this </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100037" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">mortal </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100038" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">body, </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100039" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><wbr></wbr>yea, </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100040" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100041" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">spirits </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100042" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">of </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100043" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">all </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100044" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">men, </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100045" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">w<wbr></wbr>hether </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100046" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">they </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100047" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">be </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100048" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">good </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100049" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">or </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100050" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">evil, </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100051" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a<wbr></wbr>re </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100052" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">taken</span><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100053" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">home</span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100054" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> to </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100055" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">that </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100056" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">God </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100057" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">who </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100058" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><wbr></wbr>gave </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100059" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">them </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk100060" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="m_5112065254673850009_12" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </a><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">12 </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110001" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110002" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">then </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110003" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">shall </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110004" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">it </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110005" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">come </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110006" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">to </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110007" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><wbr></wbr>pass, </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110008" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">that </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110009" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110010" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">spirits </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110011" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">of </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110012" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">thos<wbr></wbr>e </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110013" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">who </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110014" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">are </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110015" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">righteous </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110016" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">are </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110017" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">receiv<wbr></wbr>ed </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110018" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">into </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110019" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110020" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">state </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110021" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">of </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110022" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">happiness</span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110023" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">,</span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110024" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">w<wbr></wbr>hich </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110025" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">is </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110026" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">called </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110027" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">paradise</span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110028" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">, </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110029" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110030" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">sta<wbr></wbr>te </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110031" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">of </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110032" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">rest, </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110033" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110034" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">state </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110035" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">of </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110036" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">peace</span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110037" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">,</span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110038" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">w<wbr></wbr>here </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110039" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">they </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110040" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">shall </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110041" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">rest </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110042" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">from </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110043" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">all </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110044" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><wbr></wbr>their </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110045" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">troubles </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110046" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110047" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">from </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110048" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">all </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110049" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ca<wbr></wbr>re, </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110050" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and </span><span id="m_5112065254673850009chunk110051" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">sorrow.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVn3VsA0j7REGS1OdiJiVEyA5YUqYaqH97cChXm4ImKSF_W5HEdUBaJYZncRMECfiOVQlUYB45_J4jgo8MOOVjIXmf1JG7hYKUAj2bLopdy5vdnkhe6-lUhYbyBVVrVM9FWrxGPCbQYAQ/s1600/IMG_0594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1196" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVn3VsA0j7REGS1OdiJiVEyA5YUqYaqH97cChXm4ImKSF_W5HEdUBaJYZncRMECfiOVQlUYB45_J4jgo8MOOVjIXmf1JG7hYKUAj2bLopdy5vdnkhe6-lUhYbyBVVrVM9FWrxGPCbQYAQ/s640/IMG_0594.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stacey is at home. All is well, all is well. It really is. Even though Satan kept throwing things our way. Unfortunately our investigator Katie who was previously going to be baptized has gotten to busy where she would not like to meet with us and isn't ready to be baptized quite yet. And we got another hard phone call on Saturday night. We were starting power hour when our lovely Mia Moore calls us in tears. Telling us her parents flew in to take her back to Nevada, that night. We didn't have time to say goodbye, just to cry with her over the phone telling her how proud we are of her, how strong she is, and how much we love her. She is in Heavenly Fathers hands and I know her testimony will always grow. Thank goodness we are not a gospel of "forever goodbyes." Just full of "see ya laters" which we experienced a lot this week. But that's ok, their is always cause to rejoice. And let me tell you why:</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On Tuesday night we found 3 new people to teach! 3!!!!!! We had a wonderful dinner with one of our members and her friend who has been coming to church recently. Sarah. Funny right? Especially since my companions name is the same as mine. :) Sarah is wonderful, she loves our church, she loves the people and she wants to learn more. She is going to school in Missouri in a couple weeks but a couple weeks can be a good start to a building of testimony. She already told us she wants to go to our church in Missouri as well. She has such a strong desire and I am excited to teach her tonight as well. Then we went to an appointment for some referrals, Nick and Jason. We brought a member with us who recently got her call to the BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS MISSION!!! So cool right????? Ah I just about died, she leaves in November. We then go on to teach the 2 most genuine gentlemen I have ever met. On the edge of their seat at our every word. The Lord is preparing people who are ready, people just like Stacey and Mia and it is my duty and honor to go find those people. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Lord also blesses me with wonderful missionaries around me. Like my dear Sister Carlson. We were companions in the MTC and after 14 months or so being out, we were finally reunited on an exchange! Let me tell you it was an exchange led by the spirit. Uplifting each other and others. We met a 12 year old girl who has gone to girls camp, church, is reading The Book of Mormon and wants to be baptized. God is good. It was cool to see how much we had both grown, especially our love for the gospel. Looking back it was sweet that the night I found out about Stacey, I had relayed</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sunday was fantastic, each testimony that was born was perfect, such comfort was brought to my soul. It was amazing how many people were there as well, I got to meet so many people! And we are teaching one of then on Wednesday, Vince! Members are just fantastic and so excited to share the most precious gift ever. It's inspiring. And what was even more inspiring was that night we went out to Ramona with our dear Valissa. As we were talking to everyone we saw we stopped this young woman with a little baby. She told us how her Aunt had passed away. I was able to strongly testify of Gods plan for us and how I know she will see her Aunt and I will see my friend Stacey. She asked us immediately if we could come back. God is good. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Heavenly Father led me by the spirit this week and boy did I need it. But I am a stronger person because of it. One night I called Sister Purcell and as she was uplifting me she said, "Sister Whitcomb, their are more Stacey's for us to find!" Yes, yes there is. And I will do anything to find them. I am not kidding, on my way here to type out this email I felt prompted to turn around and talk to this couple on a bench. So we did it. And all they needed was an invitation to pray about The Book of Mormon and their hearts were softened. They too will be "Staceys" someday for some missionaries. And their lifes will be changed for good. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love this work. I know it's true and that is Gods. No one else can do any of this with out him. I know he's taking care of my purple haired friend and that he's taking care of me. This mission has changed me, changed me for good. And I am not, nor will I ever, go back to who I was before. I am the new improved Sister Whitcomb and I love it.</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And I love all of you. And I hope you will all continue to join me in this wonderful journey back to our loving Heavenly Father. We must press forward! I sure am. :)</span></div>
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-32643474108723889612016-07-26T14:35:00.000-07:002017-07-07T18:11:33.010-07:00Instrument in His Hands<blockquote style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" type="cite">
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<span style="color: white;">Happy Summer!!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Wow what a week of July! Full of Milagros!!!!! :) But since today was</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">transfer day I am happy to report that Sister Stirland and I are</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">staying together for another transfer!!! Woohoooo!!! I'm so grateful!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">And it's unheard of that a Mormon Battalion Sister stays out for</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">3 transfers in a row! I'm a lucky Sister! And a very grateful one as</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">well. :) Crazy how time flies though.... BUT miracles happened left</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">and right this week! </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">And so let me begin... KATIE!!!! We have a new investigator!!! Her</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">name is Katie and she is AMAZING!!!!!!!! She is the one that we street</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">contacted at the farmers market. :) We had an appointment Tuesday</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">night with her and she just let us right on in! Katie is a champ she</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">lost her fiancé a while ago and has really been able to deal with it</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">quite well. BUT it was sort of a rough restoration because she just</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">needs a totally different teaching style that we hadn't developed yet.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">BUT HAVE NO FEAR! Companionship study and role play are real! And</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Katie is being baptized on <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1885915928" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">August 27th</span></span>. :) She already got the day off</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">from work and everything. :) She also got Monday and Tuesday's nights</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">off so she can go to FHE and Institute. But not Sunday's yet. ;) She</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">is very good at feeling and identifying the spirit, we showed her the</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">chapel and just right away she was blown away, she loved it! And she</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">had a dream telling her this church is true and she should stick with</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">it. WOW!!!! Plus she's the most social person I've ever met, just</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">walking up to people and introducing herself, playing paint twister</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">with the YSA like no big deal. She has a lot of faith and a lot of</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">love. I have that same love for her. :)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">AND MIA MOORE IS A MORMON NOW!!!! Oh my gosh. What a baptism! So</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">spiritual and it was packed with YSA and it was at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1885915929" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">10 am</span></span>!!! Impressive</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">right? ;) But seriously, the talks, the musical numbers, and Mia's</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">testimony was just so awesome! And when we presented the restoration</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">the spirit was so strong. We had a couple members bear testimonies</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">during it and man. Powerful. Jaden, Mia's friend from Nevada who</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">introduced her to the the gospel, came, and we had her help us with our</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">presentation. She bore her testimony of The Book of Mormon and talked</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">about how she and her friends left one in Mia's car and Mia left it</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">there. So cool! And later in Mia's testimony she mentioned how having</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">interest helped because when the cops would pull her over she wouldn't</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">get a ticket. Nice Mia. ;) But what a strong lady. She mentioned how</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">she was amazed at how much love missionaries can have for someone</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">right away. And it's true, it is amazing. I'm glad she could feel it.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">:) I love Mia. And I love how their were 3 nonmembers at her baptism,</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">the spirit of God stuck them. :)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">And then exchanges! I got to be with Sister Essymba from Africa!!!!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">She is companions with the wonderful Sister Carlson and the cute</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Sister Davis. I got to stay with Sister Essymba in Poway!!!! She is</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">just so awesome, what a strong testifier. I seriously learned so much,</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">especially about the importance of testifying. She is a rock. Love</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">her! And love our members! Grace Wooley is literally the best because</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">from <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1885915930" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">4:30 pm to 9 pm</span></span> she drove us around and helped us teach! That's</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">the kind of member missionary I want to be like. BUT GUESS WHAT THIS</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">UPCOMING MIRACLE MADE MY WHOLE LIFE!!!! I'm still shaking from it....</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">So do you remember in El Cajon when I was teaching Elder Mahaffeys</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">grandson, Josh Mahaffey? We had a lesson with him where Tippy the cat</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">killed a bunny? Josh is awesome and he kind of got less motivated. But</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">as we were street contacting in Ramona all of a sudden I hear, "Hey</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Stranger!" AND THERE WAS JOSH MAHAFFEY!!!!!! He remembered me! And my</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">name! IT WAS THE COOLEST THING EVER!! I wish I could of seen my face</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">because I'm pretty sure my jaw dropped. El Cajon to Ramona? Who knew!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">And right exactly when I was serving there and I just so happened to</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">be in his apartment complex when he was! WOW!!! He said he would love</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">to meet with us again! And he has a girl friend that would too! But</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">he's going on a religious retreat for an undetermined amount of time</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">but I'm really excited to teach his girlfriend Sabrina, she seemed</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">really excited too! MILAGROS FOR DAYS!!!!! :):):):):)</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">I also love being the mouthpiece for our loving Heavenly Father. Their</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">was one street contact where we just approached this man. Found out he</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">was homeless, his ex wife lost all his money, and many other awful</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">things. We sat down with him and told him how much God loves him. We</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">read from the Book of Mormon with him. And words were coming out of my</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">mouth that I knew weren't mine. One of the coolest moments on my</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">mission and one I will never forget, I'm excited for the Elders to</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">teach him! :)</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Then during a power hour we street contacted this man from Bulgaria.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">He invited us to eat with him, so we did, don't worry it was outside.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">It was interesting! But we came back the next night because the Elders</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">couldn't and ate dinner again and taught 3 men the Restoration. It was</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">hard, sarcastic jokes from them and not entirely the best audience.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">BUT it was worth it because the quietest one had the most sincere</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">questions and accepted a copy of The Book of Mormon. He didn't want</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">missionaries to find him in La Mesa, but he said he'd read it. I'll</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">take it! And we will send the Elders back!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Sunday. WAS A FUN DAY!!! This whole weekend all of the YSAs over San</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Diego, 13 wards/branches, had a regional conference. SO Sacrament meeting was</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">combined and we got permission to go! And since I have served in 3 YSA</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">wards now I had many friends to hug and shake hands with! AND TENDER</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">MERCY!! 3 of my recent converts passed the sacrament, Marco, Eddie,</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">and Anthony!!! Ahhhh so awesome! And Marco said the opening prayer and</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">I was just beaming!! I just busted with joy that day! BURSTED!!! And</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Mia was just glowing, truly was. And I got a lot of revelation that</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">day. The Lord reassuring me once again that I've gotten my answer many</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">times to my prayers and that I just need to trust him. Have faith. I</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">will Heavenly Father, I will! :)</span></blockquote>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fun P-Day at Poway Park</td></tr>
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<span style="color: white;">AND THEN MIRACLE MONDAY! Wow, that Sacrament really boosted us up!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Because guess what! We got a phone call from Elder Woods, the Mormon</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Battalion director, he told us that a youth church group of 40 High</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">School kids want to learn more of what we believe. Wait what?</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Seriously. The pastor of a Box Church called the Mormon Battalion and</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">said just teach us like you would any person. So we did! And we got to</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">come help because some of them live in Poway! Wow. I was so</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">impressed by those kids! So respectful, so kind, a light truly was in</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">there eyes and then when we opened it up for questions at the end, they were so</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">intelligent! A lot of them came up to us afterward and asked us more</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">about our missionary trip and the plan of salvation! Wow! It was</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">awesome! And I don't know if I'll ever get to do that again so what an</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">honor! To teach 40 people who were all intently listening! Some of</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">them were minors so we couldn't of gotten any appointments</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">with them, but we gave them a folder with all this information and</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">pamphlets and a card to request The Book of Mormon. It was awesome!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">And when we were talking about Joseph Smith, boom spirit! This was a</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">HUGE seed planter for a lot of them. Wow. And then the day just kept</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">on getting better and better! Every night we always have dinner with</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">the Bishop and his wife so that was a treat! And then FHE, paint</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">twister! Mia was there, Katie was there, and then our friend Roland</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">showed up! So background on Roland, Sister Stirland and I street</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">contacted he and his friend Ronnie and taught them the Restoration.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">They had a ton of questions, and we gave them both a Book of Mormon.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">They didn't know of a time to meet so we just got their phone numbers.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">And yesterday we were driving and I look to my left and there was</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Roland! We waved to eachother and had to drive off because of the</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">green light. We tried to find him but were unsuccessful. But he texted</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">us and said sorry he kept missing us!! So we invited him to FHE!!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Wonderful Rodrigo gave him a ride, they did show up an hour late but</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">they came! We were planning on teaching Katie as well but we knew we</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">had to teach him too so we had to act fast! So we went on splits with</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">our wonderful members! Sister Stirland went with Valissa and Katie and</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">I heard it went beautifully! I had the privilege of giving Roland a</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">church tour and teach the restoration with Rodrigo, Miranda, and</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Jordan Hood. Wow, powerful experience. Roland was just so attentive</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">and engaged. Such a spiritual experience, the members did an awesome</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">job at testifying and Roland related to all of them! We taught him how</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">to pray and he said the sweetest prayer! I'm so excited to teach him</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">and he loves the members already! Who wouldn't! AHHH!! Oh and he said</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">he would be baptized!! WOOHOOOO!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">I'm so lucky. I'm the luckiest Sister missionary out there. I'm lucky</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">to have all of you! I truly do love you and want to give you all hugs!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">I'm cheering for you! :)</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">Love, Sister Whitcomb</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">More P-Day Fun!</span></blockquote>
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-84834359443286468482016-07-19T22:21:00.000-07:002017-06-25T22:22:40.238-07:00Keep Sprinting <blockquote style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" type="cite">
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<span style="color: white;">Hello my dear family!!!</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">Another week has flown by and next week is transfers!! AHH!!! So crazy! I truly hope they don't take Sister Stirland back to the Battalion.... We truly never know! I'll let you know next week. :) It's been a great week, one full of lessons and the spirit. And of course YSA and an ever on going Pokemon go. ;)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">Mia Mia Mia. Might as well start off with the good stuff right? ;) I LOVE MIA!! AND SHE PASSED HER BAPTISMAL INTERVIEW!!!! YAY!!!! I didn't for a second doubt it that she wouldn't pass. She's my hero. :) It was so cute when she said she didn't really wanted us involved in the program because she would need us to be right next to her the whole time. Ahhh. But it definitely has not been easy for her, and that's why I'm grateful President Schmitt is inspired and has asked every missionary to make daily contact 2 weeks before they get baptized. Mia needs it and we really have been able to get her to open up to us and trust us but more importantly trust God and the gospel he has given her. She's doing a great job! :) It was fun to put her program together. (She wants the opening song to be "The Star Spangled Banner" really badly... we will see what happen... ;) BUT SHE"S GETTING BAPTIZED THIS SATURDAY??? Isn't that crazy? Really crazy, time does fly. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">We went on exchanges on Wednesday and I got to be with my glorious 2 week companion Sister Kratzer. It was so cool to just get back in the swing of things, she's super bold! She's probably one of my favorite people to street contact with, it just feels so natural and we make so many new friends that way!! And it's amazing to see that even we ourselves as missionaries have concerns and things we struggle with, we are the happiest when we put those things aside and serve other people. When we are completely focused on our purpose. It's amazing!!!! Sister Kratzer is a great example to me of that. Where we live in Poway their is a cute park called, "Old Poway Park." With a little railroad and kind of an antique feel to it with little shops. (Mom you would have a field day!!!) We did power hour there and let me tell you, apparently it's a hot spot for Pokemon go because that's where everyone was. And more specifically the YSA! We have literally doubled our potential investigators this week because of it. Miracles, miracles. But once we got there we just started teaching this girl named Sierra. Poor Sierra has had a lot of death in her family. We were talking with her so much that we just say down with her on the ground. It was a tender moment and we actually got to give her a Book of Mormon. Then the next day Sister Stirland and I street contacted her in a different location! She was busy but said we could continue to text her to figure out a time we can meet. WE WILL!! :) It was also super cool at dinner how we saw a member get so passionate about missionary work he started to cry. He called us to repentance a little bit and now I am even more committed to helping members do missionary work. (Make sure all of your missionaries are doing that for you too! Follow up is vital! :)) Bottom line, exchanges were a blast! </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">I truly do love the Sisters I am over, I feel a love for them I have never felt before. To see them struggle makes me so sad and yet so joyful! What a wonderful process of growth! And I can't wait till they look back and see who they have become, I'm so lucky to be a part of their journey! </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">Friday were interviews with President Schmitt! I love interviews, they are so short but I've always learned so much and yet again President Schmitt wowed me! He's awesome. And let me tell you he asks about all of you all the time, mi familia, he prays for you everyday. And who ever President Schmitt prays for will be blessed, so count your lucky starts. ;) But I asked President Schmitt what he would of told himself 6 months before his mission ended. He responded, "I don't know, I wouldn't of changed anything. Just love it." I will President I will. And then he told me that sprinters when they run races don't picture the finish line at the finish line, they picture it 10 yards beyond the finish line. So that when they get to the end they are going full speed! So here I go, sprinting the rest of my mission! Don't wait up! ;) </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">Now I would love to tell you a little bit more about Westin. Westin is a recent convert since about April, I've mentioned him a couple times. He amazes me, I've never seen someone so strongly follow the spirit and be able to read people. He came out street contacting with us and just could read people, he has such a desire to help people and he does. He just knows when people are struggling. We even brought a member present to his lesson to be able to friendship him but instead Westin was the one helping him out! It's incredible, God's gifts are numerous.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">But when we were going contacting with Westin we were suppose to teach Spencer, a less active. Spencer wasn't there, so Westin had to go. But for about 2 hours we were still in the area and I felt prompted to go back. And look who was there, Spencer. He really opened up to us on what his concerns are. Now it's up to me to be able to rely on the spirit to figure out how I can help him. Working with the Lord is just the best. Also handing out Book of Mormons is the best and we've been doing it a lot lately. And I love how we don't just hand them out but we explain it, read a passage we feel inspired to read, give them a reading assignment and then leave it with them. We did it with 2 YSA that same night, it was awesome. They seem so ready to commit and then it falls through or they don't come to church. Ah YSA, you are so awesome but so difficult! It's the best challenge ever! </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">And really cool experience in Ramona, we were trying to find this YSAs house FOREVER! It turns out their house was burned down and they now live in a huge metal garage or box of some sorts you could call it. So sad, but those girls have awesome testimonies. It was confirmed to me later by Bishop that it was definitely worth all that time to go and find them. Search and Rescue. People need it and we won't stop till we find them, I hope you all join in the search! It can be frustrating but it's worth it, not only for that person but for that persons family. Generations are always impacted. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">Sunday, game day! Mia the faithful was there! Always can count on her. She also came to our dinner appointment, since we needed a female so 2 return missionaries could feed us. We taught the Restoration to them at the end and it was one of the most spiritual restorations I have ever taught! Tears and all, I'm glad Mia was there. Then we went to our Mission Presidents Devotional with Mia. And I for once was not involved in the program so it was really nice to sit in the crowd. Guess who was there? ALEX BOYE!!! He is awesome, full of testimony and has an amazing conversion story. Life was hard for him after he was baptized, but he was able to get through it. I'm glad Mia heard that. But the coolest thing ever was guess who one of the speaker was? STACEY!!!!! My purple haired friend Stacey!! I was just beaming! She sounded so natural and she is so firmly planted where she is. It makes my heart sing! I'm so glad Mia got to hear her as well! She is just amazing!!! And I got to give her a hug so it made it 10X better! It was amazing how many friends I have made here in San Diego, I saw so many people who I loved and cared for! :) My heart was full. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">And Magical Monday! Always a great one! It was my first time doing the famous Goat service in Poway! Their is a woman who is not super active in the church and she has a goat farms where it's literally cages and cages of goats. Probably over 200 goats. Imagine that, goats, dirt, and poop. IT WAS AWESOME!! We got to feed baby goats and also we found a potential investigator!!!!! John. John works there and once we spotted him we literally never left his side. We just served and taught the gospel to John. He's gonna meet with us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was so cool! And even though I had alfalfa all in my hair I didn't even care! ;) So many people are just falling in our laps. Life is good. :) </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">Bishop Tengberg and his wife are so nice! They feed us every Monday and we talk about missionary work the whole time! They are just an on fire couple! I'm amazed by their love and support and I hope to love missionaries that much some day! </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">Before I head out for the week I want to make one suggestion to all of you, look up the book, "You are Special." Read it, absorb it, live it. God loves us, he knows us, and it's important for us to "visit with Him" everyday to figure out why we are so special. And he knows, he's the one who made us. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">And I also know how special you all are, if you ever forget just ask me why! :) But most importantly ask Heavenly Father. He loves you and he's waiting to hear from you!!!</span></blockquote>
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-74358981344259513262016-07-12T21:59:00.000-07:002017-06-25T22:00:16.682-07:00Gotta Catch 'Em All <blockquote style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" type="cite">
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<span style="color: white;">Oh beautiful day!!<br />It's Tuesday! And yes, I do know about the new Pokémon go app. Why you might ask? Because compared to prior weeks their are a lot more people to talk to outside and all of them are playing this game! (the best secret missionary tool ever!) Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways. The missionaries in San Diego are being blessed! Everyone is out! And the work keeps moving forward! I loved this week just as much as the last. :) </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">We actually dropped our investigator Chad Tuesday night. Always really hard, but he's struggling with faith. It's a hard concept, I guess it might appear that life would be easier if God would just appear to us but I am grateful that I am able to grow through my faith. I know Chad will one day too, we left him with a talk to ponder and an open invitation to come to church. I hope he comes!! He's a really nice guy! The prayer that he said at the end was so sweet, truly asking if God was there, I know if he keeps doing that, his prayers will be answered! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">But man oh man! Since we cover YSA we cover the whole Poway stake, which includes Ramona!!!! SO FUN!!! Ramona is beautiful and reminds me of Jamul, just a little more civilized. haha :) We went in the evening so we got to see the sun set and we almost played a game of pool to a guy we taught the restoration to. Just kidding, we had to speed home to make it for curfew! But the Elders can now go over!! WOOHOO!! And apparently it's the first referral the Elders have received <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1692487699" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">in 3 months</span></span>, wow. That's a long time. I'm glad we got to be the answer to someone's prayers!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">And Thursday. SO FUN!!! WE GOT TO GO TO THE MORMON BATTALION WITH MIA!!!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">WOOHOOO!!! Man so much love! The battalion, Mia, so much! We had dinner with Mia and our member Rodrigo beforehand and then drove to the Battlion. And since Sister Stirlands original call was the Mormon Battalion, so she got to dress up in a cute pioneer dress and give a tour! It was awesome, Mia loved it and was totally not expecting how fun it was going to be! Everyone needs to go to the Battalion! Even a man from Germany was there and at the end of the tour he said he had been to Temple Square as well and he just feels something different. THE SPIRIT OF GOD!!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Battalion, gotta love it, full of miracles! But then Mia wanted to see the Temple as well so we made a quick pit stop and got to talk to Mia about the Temple. She literally knows so much! She wants to bring her Grandmothers name to the Temple and she already knows she's going to get her endowment in a year! This girl literally glows and so many people mistake her as a member! We got to sit down with the Bishop on Sunday with Mia so they could meet eachother and the Bishop confessed that he already thought she was a member! She already glows like a member! I LOVE HER!!! She comes to church, reads her scriptures twice a day and comes to all the activities! She's so cool!!! And apparently she has an Uncle and a cousin that converted to the church as well! Small world!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">But as well on Thursday we were able to stop by the man, Matthew, who had glass in his foot. We came by with a member and when he opened the door you could tell he just totally forgot. He felt so bad! But guess what? He went to the doctors! His foot is no longer pussy and he was able to better communicate with us as well. :) We gave him a Book of Mormon and told him to read certain sections, he said he was going to come to church but wasn't able to. He said he would love to learn, and that his brother was learning and would probably like to continue it! WAAHOOO!!!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">And here in Poway, every single Power Hour that I've been on has been such a success. We've invited so many people to be baptized, given out so many Book of Mormons (And people said they would actually read them), given out so many referrals, and we've found a very few of our own potentials. POWER HOUR IS GOLDEN HOUR!!! And we've just been inviting and inviting and inviting them to activities via the phone, so hopefully one of them will show up soon! :) </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">And the members are on FIRE!! We had a member who was suppose to come to a lesson that cancelled but he wanted to come tract with us! He was so pumped to go knock door to door and when we were knocking we managed to find a less active here on vacation from Utah, a dead possum, and we gave away a Book of Mormon. The member we brought out with us was literally run/walking from house to house! And he was a tall man so we were booking it to keep up with him. IT WAS AWESOME!!! They keep me fired up!!!! We also had zone meeting where Sister Stirland and I gave training. High Expectations and High Love people, they are so important and you can't have one with out the other! When we have those 2 things, miracles happen and faith increases! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">And talk about learning a lesson of Tender Mercies on Saturday! So we learned that every Saturday their is a Farmers Market where a ton of people gather, so we decide to go contact over there! Go where the people are! And it was slightly awkward at first, knowing who to approach, who to stop. But we saw miracles and ran into a former investigator, now have a potential investigator who was looking for a church and has a Book of Mormon. And talk about tender mercies, a member stopped us and bought us lunch! I almost cried! It was one of those high stress situations and she just let us know that God still loved us by buying us a sandwich! It's the little things, it truly is. Because that little act changed our whole day, it made us smile more, stand up straighter, and we defiantly did not feel alone in that big crowd. Never ignore a prompting, it could change millions of peoples days just by helping that one person. God is good. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">We went out to Ramona again on Saturday and our sweet senior couple, the Haws, drove us all over! They just rock! They bought us dinner at the Ramona café as well which was apparently on a TV show on Food Network! Fancy stuff! ;) Even though it was hot and we both got a teensy bit sun burned our favorite part was probably street contacting an ice cream man. Yes we did share the gospel and yes we did get ice cream. :) </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">My first official Sunday in the ward was awesome! So many members just willing to go! And I was so happy I got to bear my testimony to the members and nonmembers there! I put my name next to Nephi and let them know that whatever the Lord wants me to do I will do it, and I will not return home until I get it down. And I do these things because I love God and Gods children. Love is everything. And after every 3 hour block on each Sunday they have some type of linger longer. Except Bishop doesn't like to call it a linger longer, he calls it chat and chomp or flirt and feast or munch and mingle. He's a creative man. :) We then for the rest of the night had a member with us at all times which really makes the work so fun! We talked to many people and even stopped a YSA on his bike who said he would meet with us! I've never met so many people that have been looking for a church. Funny how the Lord works. :) </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">And Monday was AWESOME because it was 7/11!! Free Slurpee day! We totally almost forgot but have no fear! We saw many people on the streets with Slurpee's and were reminded. :) And we again went on an awesome power hour with a convert, Greg, previously we had asked him to pray to know where to go and he thought of a random street. So off we went, and who do we run into? One of his army buddies, who is really struggling. He has just given up on God because of all the death that has been around him. He wasn't quite open to us but I know it softened him a little bit, especially to hear Greg's testimony. And I know if Greg wasn't there, their would of been no way he would of listened to us. God is good!!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I just love teaching, I appreciate it so much when I have a long day and finally I get to sit down and teach a lesson. And we got to teach 2 surprise lessons yesterday to 2 less actives. Spencer and Ryan. They are awesome and they both want to share the gospel with people! Yipeee!!!! :) </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Even though we are really only teaching one investigator I'm really happy to say that I'm happy. I can honestly say I've been pretty impressed how I've never been frustrated and I've never given up hope. I know with all my heart that so many people are out there and I am willing to do whatever it takes to find them. I'm so happy to say my testimony is rock solid and is only getting more rock like qualities. ;) But I know Heavenly Father is preparing people and I can't wait to tell you all about them once I find them.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I love this church, I love my companion, I love my area, I love my mission. I love saying the name of our church to anyone and everyone I see.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! And I couldn't be happier. :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Love, Sister Whitcomb</span></div>
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-83983482539849878372016-07-05T21:04:00.000-07:002017-06-11T21:05:50.040-07:00Mia Moore, Mi Amor<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><span style="color: white;">HELLOOO!!!!! </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: white;">And Happy Belated 4th of July!! WHAT A GOOD WEEK!! I LOVE Mt. Woodson, I love the people, I love Sister Stirland, I love our investigators, I love our area. I JUST LOVE LIFE!!! It feels like home here, I have just been blown away this past week. WE HAVE BEEN SEEING SO MANY MIRACLES!! It's literally unreal, and they are just falling right into our laps! I must begin because the time is far spent. :)<br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: white;">SO Tuesday, I was finally with Sister Stirland. And a little bit about her, I don't know if I told you already but she is from Highland Utah, she came 1 transfer before me but she is also extending! She's awesome. She has been a Sister Training Leader for A LONG time, so she is amazing! She can sing, play piano, and she has the cutest curly hair ever! I just love her, and we talk about how we are very similar all the time! (And we even have the same first name! And we spell it the same way!! :)) ANYWAY so Tuesday night was awesome where I got to meet Westin, an amazing recent convert who was once an atheist but now is a strong Latter-Day Saint, and he comes out with us! He's awesome! I got to be stampeded by Valissa who came in and gave me a huge bear hug! (I went on splits with her in Santee when she was going to Grossmont college) We then also met with this super cool recent convert who went against her family but is in LOVE with the church. A family in Arizona introduced her. It's hard for her to come to church because of her family life and work but we will get her there! YSA, I'm so lucky to be in 3 different YSAs! And the Bishop is the nicest man ever! Bishop Tengburg, just a nice man. They let us do laundry at their home and study there and basically open their pantrees to us, they rock! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">But the coolest miracle happened on Wednesday morning. Right before we start studies we get a text from a YSA, Rodrigo. He said this girl, Mia Moore, who just showed up to church last week and became friends with him texted him. And she basiclly said that she knows the church is true, she reads and prays everyday, she found out where the nearest church for her was and the only thing she is missing is baptism. Her family has made it really hard but now that she is 18 and moved out from Nevada she wants to be baptized!!!!! She wants the Gift of the Holy Ghost!!! WE WERE JUMPING UP AND DOWN!! And Rodrigo told us we were going to have dinner with her tonight with him! SWEET!!! (And PS isn't her name the coolest? Mia Moore, Mi amor! SO COOL!!) So we meet her at a Chick-fil-a, I know classy! Mia is the most calmest and chill person ever! She acts like a member and sometimes she even admits she lies to people and tells them she is a member! Her friend introduced her to the church in Arizona and she would literally go to everything!! She's been through all the lessons and has been taught for years. She wanted to of been baptized 2 days ago! She wanted to be baptized this past Saturday but as we prayed with her the spirit was teling Sister Stirland and I that it just wasn't right. But that July 23rd would be the right day. When we finally solidified that day, holy cow! The spirit was so strong and Mia almost cried. I love Mia, I'm so excited for her! We were able to bring her to a baptismal service on Saturday, (MARCOS BAPTISM, I will get to that later :)) and teach her a lesson. She's very different and very humble in lessons then when out of lessons. It's very cool. And this week we are going to the Mormon Battalion with her and since Sister Stirland served there she is going to give us the tour!! So excited!! But Mia also came to church which made me happy and for the 4th of July shes going back to Nevada for a little bit and sent us the nicest text right before she left. I just love this girl!! She's like my little sister. :) </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: white;">We also got to teach another one of Mt. Woodsons investigators, Cameron. He has cancer and has many health problems, so he seems very gentle and fragile. And yet he plays electric guitar, it makes me smile. :) But his Mom is a member and he knows he'll become a member but he just doesn't want to come to church. Not even for the first hour, but we will get him there! The spirit will tell him to go! And I also got to teach the famous Greg who many Sisters have taught before me. He is a recent convert, almost coming up on a year now! He use to be in the army so is a very tough guy. But this very tough guy loves the gospel and loves to share it with everyone! In fact when he came into church on Sunday he asked us if we had any appointments after church and we said no and then he said, "Well now you do, I found 2 people for you to teach." WHAT? SO cool! We taught his 2 friends Mike and Zack. They were the nicest guys and just really wanted to hear what made our church different. We gave them a Book of Mormon but weren't quite ready to set a return appointment. Ah YSA. Hopefully we'll be able to meet with them again, they said they would talk to Greg about it. But I've never received so many referrals from members and then been able to teach them instantly! It's amazing! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: white;">That also happened to us on Thursday where we got this random text from an active member asking if we had any dinner plans. We did not and then he goes on to tell us that he wanted to have us over so we could teach his friend Regina! SO COOL!! So we go over and it turns out another YSA, Spencer, was there with his friend, Christina! SO crazy! So we had a nice dinner and then taught a powerful restoration where, the original member, Randall Sutton, and his family all bore powerful testimonies of the Restoration. And then at the end Regina asked amazing questions and she apparently already had a copy of The Book of Mormon. It was very cool! She as well wasn't quite ready to set up a return appointment, but these members will be getting a lot of follow up from us to see how their friends are doing! It was SO cool!! :) We also taught another investigator, Chad, who we will probably not teach for much longer. He is very analytical and when the spirit comes he gets scared of it and chases it right off. It can be quite an exhausting experience. We are just going to put him in to the Lords hands. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: white;">Then Friday was MLC. Missionary Leadership Council. A very good one where President Schmitt got a call and church headquarters told him that our mission has been hand picked one of twelve to be a pilot mission for online proselyting. Oh boy! I'm not sure how I feel about it. Looks like I might be getting a facebook soon after all! Once again, oh boy! But afterwards Sister Stirland and I saw the coolest miracle during power hour. We were in an apartment complex and we decided to walk behind this random building up this random staircase to this random floor, (which of course by now we all know that nothing is done by random) and their was a door open and we could see some people. We walk by it but then we both feel as we need to ring the door bell on that open wide door. So we did and the Mom came and just looked and smiled and laughed and said, "Oh Sisters! Hello! Let me get my daughter. She has been looking for a church to go to and I haven't been able to bring her because I work on Sundays. Ashley come here!" And this 15 year old girl walks up and pretty much starts crying. She then tells us how she's been wanting to go to a church, we exchange numbers and tell her some other sisters will come over soon. Coolest experience ever! I love it, I love God! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: white;">Then on Saturday, MARCO GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!! Wowie wow wow. Who would of thought, but it happened! And Eddie did such a good joy performing the ordinance, it might of taken him 3 times to get him all the way under but he did it! And when he stated the words he looked Marco right in the eye, very powerful! Nearly 40 people attended his baptism, it was awesome! And then during Marco's testimony he talked about the first time we met him and how after he came back from the hair salon he felt prompted to call us. And we came right over! And the rest is history! SO CRAZY!! And also it was Sister Purcells birthday. HAPPY BIRHTDAY!!! Best birthday gift ever. :) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: white;">Sunday was literally so crazy and so fun! It was literally a YSA extravaganza where for the 3 hour block we were combined with 2 other YSA wards, one in Palomar and one was Black Mountain! And we were at the Black Mountain building! It was so fun! :) And it was so awesome to see so many people that I love in Black Mountain. And the YSA in Mt Woodson are just so nice, they came right up to me and introduced themselves and asked when they could go out with us or what they can do to help. And Mia is just swarmed with fellowshippers! This is going to be awesome. :) But we all know why they have these YSA combined activities and thats why I am so grateful I am a missionary! At the end of the 3 blocks they had a munch and mingle and to mix it up they had all the guys take off their ties and it put it on a table and all of the girls had to pick one and then the guy had to find the tie and they had to eat with each other and get to know each other. Nice. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: white;">AND AMERICA DAY!!! It was a great day. Apparently it was also the day of hugs because we received many awkward hugs from different potential male investigators. Awkward!! So the first one was the first house we stopped by, we woke him up and we were actually looking for his brother but hey! He was YSA and he was there. So we started to talk to him and right away you could tell he was either under the influence of something or getting over something. He then pointed out to us how he had glass in his foots for about 3 weeks and the puss told you it was true! So not only did we commit him to an appointment but also to go to the hospitail. He then went to hug Sister Stirlands waist, HILARIOUS!! And then when we were power houring and talking in spanglish to this this man who we gave a Libro de Mormon to and he decided to awkwardly side ways hug us. Good times! We then had to go in early <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">at 6 pm</a> for safety reasons. We studied faith and boy was it enlightening. It was awesome! And then Sister Stirland and I played with bubbles and saw fireworks from our door. It was an awesome night. :) </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: white;">But I hope you all had the best 4th as well! I love you all and miss you all! This is just going by too fast! I hope you are all happy and continue to turn to the Lord for that happiness. I LOVE YOU!!! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: white;">Love, Sister Whitcomb</span></span></div>
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-90955750841413010502016-06-28T22:45:00.000-07:002017-06-04T23:02:30.819-07:00The Book of Mormon: A Miraculous Miracle <blockquote style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" type="cite">
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<span style="color: white;">Dearest Loved ones,</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Did you know you could receive a lot of revelation in one week? HOLY COW!!! God is good and he still loves me! (Thank goodness ;)) But man oh man! First off, congrats to my friend and cousin, NOW SISTER ORTON!!!! GOING ON A MISSION!!! It's literally the best thing ever, you will love it cuz! Just like I love YOU! You rock. Never forget. :)<br />BUT anyways, Poway is CRAZY! And a very rich area, but even though it's a rich area, the people are so nice! Even when we get rejected, I've never met such nice people as they are denying us! And this past week I have found true joy in seed planting because we have been using The Book of Mormon A LOT more. So even though Sister Stirland and I aren't together as companions, we are still both Sister Training Leaders and as such President Schmitt asked us if we could give training on The Book of Mormon and the Atonement. It was tricky to get together but SO worth it. I have a lot more love for The Book of Mormon then I thought was ever possible! Just think about it. This book was prepared by a loving Heavenly Father far beyond 600 BC. That's a long time to wait to get the Book of Mormon published. And even getting it published took a lot of sacrifice and getting out to everyone took a lot of peoples life's. I have a deeper love and respect for the prophet Joseph Smith. Truly praise to the man. The training on Friday went pretty good, I hope the missionaries understood the importance of The Book of Mormon and how they need to use it in EVERYTHING they do. I am now determined to read a small part of The Book of Mormon at least 5 times a day! Right as I wake up, at breakfast, at lunch, at dinner time, and before I go to bed. It's truly been amazing, you should try it! I just read a small column. Totally doable and it changes your whole day! And at zone conference we totally dissected the first 14 pages of The Book of Mormon to see why they are so important and why Heavenly Father wants it to be the first thing we read! So cool, so much evidence of revelation and how important it is. We need a prophet today! God works through revelation, he never will stop. The Book of Mormon is living proof. The Book of Mormon is why I'm happy, it's why I'm on a mission and I know it will be the "why" for a lot of the events in my life. Make sure to keep it in yours! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Cute companion doing service :) </td></tr>
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<span style="color: white;">But anyway, back to the Poway area! I am honestly going to miss these 3 crazy family wards! The members are sooooo fantastic! They were just giving us referrals left and right! And with a lot of them we got to leave Book of Mormons with! When we do power hour we usually pray with members before hand and then we ask them who they know in the area might need a visit. One of the members referred us to their neighbors who recently had a death in the family. One of the daughters answered the door, shes in her 30s or so. We started talking and then I got to relate my experience of experiencing my Grandpas death on the mission and how I know I'm going to see him again. It was a very cool experience one that had us nearly in tears. We then testified of The Book of Mormon, read a verse with her and she really enjoyed it! She wasn't ready to meet, but as we were walking outside the house we saw a man in a car and we started talking to him. Turns out it was her brother! And we got to give him a Book of Mormon too! They are just a cool prepared family who now have 2 copies of The Book of Mormon in their house with Mormon neighbors. The Lord loves them. :) </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Then on Wednesday we had an exchange with Sister Cortello and Sister Marz! Man I love those 2 Sisters, both so funny and such hard workers. I had the privilege of being with Sister Marz in BLACK MOUNTAIN!!! Man I miss Black Mountain. Truly was a great 2 transfers for me. BUT I got to go back and I had dinner with the Fislers! And he got to show me his published book. He's awesome! It's on the Atonement. You should look it up, his name is Dave P. Fisler. He's awesome! It was really cool to see Sister Marz grow during the day. It's really hard for her to talk to people, complete strangers. BUT Sister Marz conquered her fear! By the end of the day I saw such improvement. Always makes you proud and feel good. :) But at the end of the night we got to talk to this really cool African woman. We showed her the Hallelujah video, she accepted a copy of a large print Book of Mormon, big deal. :) She didn't want to meet with missionaries but she said she would read it. We've been getting that a lot lately........... But I'm glad they at least have a copy of The Book of Mormon! In the Lords hands now! We also got 2 Farse referrals, Milagros! Maybe I do have the gift of tongues. ;) </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">But also I am very grateful for these 2 weeks with Sister Kratzer. She has really humbled me, she helped me identify my weaknesses, with love of course, and we just grew a lot together. It is not fun to be humbled but it is so necessary, so if it ever happens to you, don't run from it, embrace it! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">ALSO UPDATE FROM SANTEE!!! MARCO IS GETTING BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY!!!! I am so amazed with him. Only weeks ago we street contacted him, he's changed his whole life since then. Seriously. I love that guy. Sister Purcell called me one night and she said that Marco asked if I could play the piano. Great guy! And then he asked her if I could play in English because he's only see me play at a Spanish mission presidents devotional.... HAHA! I died. :) Apparently he has been going to EVERY single activity and guess what, HE ASKED EDDIE TO BAPTIZE HIM!!! oh so cool! My recent convert will baptize my other recent convert! Sister Purcell said Eddie was beaming! How cool is that? :)I love Marco Polo. :) </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I have come to learn that I will do anything for the people I teach. Including scaling a 40 ft dirt steep hill. We were trying to find an investigator. We will do anything for them! It was a cool physical testament for me. We were trying to find Steve, Steve does not have a home. We saw his camp site. It made me very grateful. Now Steve is being checked into a VA Hospital. Very sad we won't be able to see him again but VERY good for him. He's on the right path, proud of him! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">ALSO we had a cool miracle with the coolest Sisters ever! You remember Sister Carlson? I hope so because I mention her like every letter! WELL she was the coolest MTC companion ever and she is now in La Jolla with Sister Essymba from Africa. And they contacted this family of 10 from the Ivory Coast. And they came to our ward on Sunday! It was very hectic but Heavenly Father is perfect so everything worked out in the end. :) She came with 2 of her kids, they are adorable! And they also only speak French, thank goodness our Bishop is from Switerzland! Seriously, he's awesome. But we were able to help them and they TOTALLY felt the spirit. Soon a family of 10 will be sealed for time and all eternity. :) Probably in Temecula though because that's where they are trying to live. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Oh! And on Sunday Binbin came! So that made it wonderful, but 7 hours of church is always wonderful! 7 hours of blessings as President Schmitt would day! :) And even though we got rejected the rest of the night, I still got to look up at the beautiful stary sky and think why am I so lucky? I truly am. I love the gospel. Elder Holland is right, I need to soak up every minute! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Monday went by SO fast. We did service, helped a Farse class, gave away a Farse Book of Mormon and to end the night we gave a Book of Mormon to this awesome girl. After I explained The Book of Mormon Sister Kratzer asked her, "What if God sent us here to you to give you this book?" Then Linda said she would get tingles. Tingles were felt. :) And I might or not of killed a spider with my shoe in front of her before we left. BUT HEY she felt the spirit. :) And I protected her from a spider, win win. :) </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">And now I go off to Mt. Woodson with Sister Stirland! I am ready for this exciting adventure to learn, to love, and to grow! I will miss Sister Kratzer but she is going to be an amazing trainer! We got to see the new sisters today and had a mini transfer meeting. (And Sister Carlson and Essymba are training :)) I was just beaming looking at all the Sisters. I love them all.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I love you all! You are always in my prayers, my thoughts, and in my heart! I LOVE YOU!!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Love, Sister Whitcomb</span></div>
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-45134267593591222912016-06-21T22:36:00.000-07:002017-06-04T22:44:42.300-07:00Work Till the Last Minute<blockquote style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">Family,</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Just wow. Life is awesome! Missionary work is fun and I'm trying to</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">work my hardest till the very last minute of everyday, and God is</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Let me tell you, something about Temple square sisters. They just have</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">the spirit so strongly and it's no different with Sister Kratzer.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">She's probably the boldest missionary I've ever met. She's so open and</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">honest with people and just walks right up to them, I've learned a</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">lot. She's going to be an awesome trainer! She's been out for a year,</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">she's in a military family so she was born in the Bay Area (in California) but came</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">from Alaska to her mission. I admire her. I as well really love Poway</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">thus far. Covering 3 family wards is CRAZY, but always a good crazy.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">:) The members are just hungry for missionary work and the strangers</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">that we talk to on the street are almost all very friendly. So nice!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">But let's get down to the good stories. Tuesday night was crazy! We</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">were invited to the mission home for dinner because we were picking up</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">a mini missionary to be with Sister Stirland. The new missionaries</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">were there as well and guess who I saw...2 missionaries who were at one</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">time in the Springfield Massachusetts Stake! Elder Daniel Smith and</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Hermana Richardson. CRAZY! I had to take a double take, I couldn't</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">believe they were there in front of my face with a name tag on! It</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">made me VERY happy none the less. Massachusetts is flooding San Diego!</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Let me tell you Poway is the northest part of the mission, a little</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">ways away. But we got to work right away by meeting some of the church</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">leaders and street contacting. In the area that I'm in I actually live</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">with members, really nice, and as we were moving our stuff in we</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">started talking to our neighbors. They referred us to a man whose wife</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">had just passed away. We went to knock on his door and a very</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">depressed man was standing before us. It broke my heart, we shared how</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">we wanted to share a message of peace and comfort and with a cracked</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">and sad voice he said it wasn't a good time. But Sister Kratzer being</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">the amazing missionary she is, bore a powerful testimony and asked if</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">we could say a prayer. She then said the most spiritual prayer ever!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Tears all around, even from him! We then said a prayer of gratitude right after</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">for that experience and right as I said amen, these light beams from a</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">car were right on us! Strong message from Heavenly Father, we go over</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">to talk to this YSA. We ended up giving him a Book of Mormon and</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">invited him to be baptized. He said maybe and was not quite interested</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">to meet yet. He has The Book of Mormon though, all will be well.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Wednesday we walked and walked and walked. I definetly know I worked</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">my hardest that day and we literally talked to EVERYONE. No one passed</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">us by. We have been practicing our Spanish a lot! We are a sight to be</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">seen! </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">We also ran into Dan, he lives right above a member and we asked</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">him for directions and started to talk to him about the gospel. He is</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">going through hard family times, very hard times. So sad. And</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">apparently his 8 1/2 year old son has talked to missionaries before,</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">he's sat in some discussions! He welcomed us back the next day with a</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">cool home and ice water. We had a great discussion and even though he</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">claimed to be a hopeful agnostic he said a beautiful prayer at the</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">end. He then came to a Ward pool party 2 days later, he was speaking</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">German with the Bishop, he's been reading The Book of Mormon and</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">applying it to himself and he came to church! He literally just fell</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">into our lap and he is so willing to keep commitments! He accepted the</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">invitation to be baptized but doesn't feel like he's in a stable</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">situation to accept a date. Fair enough, someday though. And soon. The</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Ward just surrounded him too, it was awesome! Dan is a good man.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">Even though triple covering is hard it does have its benefits of lunch</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">and dinner appointments! So many members, so little time. ;) And</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">several times members have serenaded us during dinner and lunch,</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">living the life! :) And Poway is just literally full of green lights,</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">physically and spiritually. Many prayers have been uttered while we've</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">been here and many of them have been answered. In role playing we were</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">able to practice simplifying the restoration in a minute and we got to</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">practice it a lot on people! We even gave away a Book of Mormon and</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">left him with a chapter to read. It was very cool. We also went over</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">to a members house to help her move, and I've never seen so many</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Pillsbury dough boys, everywhere. Kitchen supplies, dining, living</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">room. Everything. And I thought I had seen it all. Nay.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">And also my</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">testimony is strengthened of having lessons in members homes. The</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Sisters have been teaching a man named Steve, he is currently without</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">a home but is being fellowshipped by a member who is also without a</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">home. I have seen Steve change so much in the last couple of days. We</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">had a lesson with him at our Ward Mission leaders home, Brother Weeks.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Super cool, we watched the video, "Hope of Gods light" which applied</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">to him EXACTLY. We then helped him realize the way to start over was</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">through baptism. HE COMMITTED FOR A DATE OF <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1075965014" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">JULY 16</span></span>!!!! YAYYY Steve!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">In order to help him reach this we all decided to fast together. So on</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Saturday at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1075965015" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">4 pm</span></span> to Sunday at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1075965016" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">4 pm</span></span> we fasted. We even conferenced</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">called to start the fast. Very powerful, one of the most powerful</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">fasts yet. He came all nicely dressed to church and seemed great! He</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">was very hungry but great. :) Then last night we had one of the most</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">powerful lessons yet at Brother Weeks home again. Steve said since the</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">fast he has received clarity, spiritually and physically. Awesome. We</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">then talked about the power of The Book of Mormon and to help him to</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">that we are starting a group text with members about what we read from</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">The Book of Mormon each day. It's gonna be awesome! Steve is awesome.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">I'm excited for him.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">We are also teaching Binbin Wong. She's from China and she doesn't</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">want to meet with Mandarin sisters so here we are! She was introduced</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">to the church from a member in our Ward and they help her understand</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">when she doesn't fully understand. And on gospel principles she</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">announced, to our surprise, she wants to be a member of our church!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Wahoo!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Also on Saturday we had this amazing power hour where we found another</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">YSA and taught him a great Restoration. We had a lot of questions and</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">we committed him to be baptized and read Alma 32. As we were walking</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">away we saw him reading from The Book of Mormon. Best feeling EVER! We</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">told the YSA sisters to call him ASAP and now they have a potential appt. on</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Friday! Yahoo!!! Saturday was also the day of the fast and Ward pool</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">party. So hard to say no to all that food! ;) And it was super awkward</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">to stand next to a pool..... BUT Dan was there so it was worth it!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Sunday was amazing and exhausting and all things in between. Have any</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">of you been to 7 hours of church? No break? Well I can check that off</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">my bucket list now. And we didn't even have Ward councils because of</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Fathers Day. Splits are a real thing and members were so helpful so we</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">could make it to all sacrament meetings, Sunday school classes, and</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Relief Society. It was AWESOME! All while fasting. And THEN we drove</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">real fast to the mission presidents devotional in Spanish. It was my</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">privilege again to play the piano for the choir and a special musical</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">number. And guess what?? MARCO WAS THERE!!! That's right, Marco from</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Santee! I was so happy to hear him! He doesn't speak Spanish but he</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">had a translator, it was so cool of him to make that effort! He went</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">to church and he's so excited to be baptized! Ah, I love Santee. And</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">it was awesome when President and Sister Schmitt sang with heir 2 kids</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">teach me to walk in the light. In Spanish. Talented family. Love them!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">And Monday. The day it was above 100 degrees almost all day. Water and</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">sun screen are real! And I can now proclaim myself a survivor! We did</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">some service, met with Dan and Steve and the Sisters investigator</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Cheryl. They haven't seen her in a while so it was good to recommit</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">her to The Book of Mormon. Always a good thing. :)</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Man family, I am just so blessed. I love where I serve, I love the</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">people I serve with and I especially love all of you! Never forget.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">And make sure to open The Book of Mormon everyday and listen after</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">every prayer you ever utter. He loves you, I love you. I'm cheering</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">for you!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">Love, Sister Whitcomb</span></blockquote>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-29714236575352090382016-06-14T13:16:00.000-07:002017-04-14T13:17:42.764-07:00<blockquote style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" type="cite">
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<span style="color: white;">To my all dearest loved ones! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2MjTT86snuPKjf8MaV6DjGvQY3uHtNzkJ-SQAMsIbX0m2ixBCv6pGoka2nxMQ3cVi6PmNxz-UELuXELr-5eCtWkZHfqbSJyP2Zab-0UfERRlweaBSJvqG3LdQ3tFizNJGVkP0HjPPP0/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1915.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2MjTT86snuPKjf8MaV6DjGvQY3uHtNzkJ-SQAMsIbX0m2ixBCv6pGoka2nxMQ3cVi6PmNxz-UELuXELr-5eCtWkZHfqbSJyP2Zab-0UfERRlweaBSJvqG3LdQ3tFizNJGVkP0HjPPP0/s640/fullsizeoutput_1915.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Leaving my cute home </span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white;">Transfer day! Wowie wow wow. Today was the day I had to leave Santee. Seriously has become one of my favorite places of all places!!! I love the people, all of them. It broke my heart a little to leave all of them but I know I will be back! I don't know when, I just know I will be! And I am being transferred to the great lands of POWAY!!! I am originally assigned to serve in the Mt. Woodson YSA ward as a Sister Training Leader with Sister Stirland, she's from Highland, UT. She actually originally was serving in the Mormon Battalion but she's on her "outbound." I'm excited to serve with her!! BUT all of the new missionaries who are suppose to come into today, just the Sisters had to stay behind in the MTC to get some extra shots. SO I'm going to be on a 2 week or so assignment with Sister Kratzer who is on her outbound from Temple Square! She is serving in 3 family wards in Poway, the Lake Hodges Ward, Del Sur and Rancho Bernardo. It's going to be a party! And I'm excited for the adventures to begin! It sounds like summer has started for all of you! That's exciting, make sure to tell me all about your adventures!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DPqbhB3R9E8pmmtu3CYZtP341h0AZQJKwfp7VRzBINDRwIIH3KmPSmKgEmYyHgVqnCTFHbPuzv5s-VdTZh7qqFa9KWBVMQfdIIW7ibElDrAOz3_CseK0TO-AJqHdo9tHPDEDHvIbIZA/s1600/IMG_2999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DPqbhB3R9E8pmmtu3CYZtP341h0AZQJKwfp7VRzBINDRwIIH3KmPSmKgEmYyHgVqnCTFHbPuzv5s-VdTZh7qqFa9KWBVMQfdIIW7ibElDrAOz3_CseK0TO-AJqHdo9tHPDEDHvIbIZA/s640/IMG_2999.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: white;">But as for my adventures..... </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1029015685" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Tuesday</span></span> was crazy. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1029015686" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Tuesday</span></span> was a period of growth! Thankfully it was started off on a good note like I said last week, by going to the Temple. Heavenly Father knew I would need that peace to come back into this CRAZY world. We had a bunch of appointments fall through. We had a nice meeting with our 88 year old investigator. But boy can he TALK! We were in their for quite sometime and coming out I was slightly frustrated. But he's reading The Book of Mormon so THAT is awesome!!!!! No baptismal date yet but I know the Sisters will take care of that. And besides he is starting to really get fellowshipped in the ward. Last night some members took them to see the movie, "Singing with Angels." It's about the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and that's all about I know. People said it was good! It was only a one time show though. Glad they went! We then later that <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1029015687" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Tuesday </span></span>night had a pass off lesson from the Bostonia Elders. It was for a YSA named Ryan they had found. Ryan is AWESOME!!! He has a really basic knowledge of religion so it was nice to keep it really basic because that is when the spirit is strongest! And then when we had the follow up lesson he got a baptismal date for <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1029015688" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">JULY 9TH</span></span>!!!!!! He's awesome! Just needs to get work off and come to church! He's in the process! YAY! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I also had a long talk with Heavenly Father, it was awesome. He's a good one to talk to. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1029015689" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Wednesday</span></span>, was go go GO! We were able to meet with a lot of recent converts, including Vanessa and Stacey. Both are doing awesome! They both have callings, Vanessa has been to the Temple multiple times and they are both just on FIRE! I'm really proud of them, I'm sad to leave them but I'm excited for how much good they will do in the world! I love them! We also met with Brother Nelson, a less active. and let me tell you I was SO grateful for the member that was there. Brother McCulloch just did amazing! He truly brought the spirit and he made Brother Nelson feel so comfortable. Members are just so important in that regard! So even people who haven't really been to church in a while need a friend, just like investigators do! We also had our 2nd and last district meeting. With all of the crazy mission tours and mission meetings we weren't able to have more then 2! But that's ok, because I've learned A LOT this transfer. They asked me to bear my testimony on my purpose. It's always an eye opener, for me then for anyone else, to bear my testimony. I truly see where I am at when I follow the spirit and bear my testimony, I now find myself grasping at every opportunity to bear my testimony! I challenge you all to as well. :)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1029015690" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Thursday</span></span>. Weekly Planning! Weekly planning keeps me safe from sin! It truly does, it helps me not to mess up! Planning is so important, that's a HUGE lesson my mission has taught me. Setting goals and making plans. It's always nice when you get weekly planning breaks for frozen yogurt during lunch. Always a good idea. :) We saw Gail and she got your card Mom! Stacey did as well and they just loved it! I am surrounded by good people and I am blessed. :) </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1029015691" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Friday</span></span>. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1029015692" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Friday</span></span> was crazy! 2 of the Sisters we are over went home today but <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1029015693" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Friday</span></span> they had departure activities where the departing missionaries that transfer go to the Temple, get interviewed by President Schmitt and eat food and have a testimony meeting. So their 3rd companion needed a companion and it ended up being me! We seemed to of woke up quite early for a couple times this week since we also helped them get to the airport today as well. whew! But Chula Vista is awesome! And it's going to be Sister Mioles new area! WOOOHOO!!!! And Sister Miole is TRAINING!!!! YAYYYYYY!!! So proud of her, she's going to do AWESOME! But anyway, Chula was quite fun. I got to sit in on their zone meeting. One nugget of knowledge I got was that when we want investigators, we would love for them to be golden investigators. The people who just go above and beyond what is asked and really soak it all in and have a desire for more. Well if we want those people, we have to be those golden investigators to God. We have to go above and beyond and be more dedicated to the work! And I'm all in right now! It was a good day, Chula Vista is an awesome area and I even got cheesecake out of it. An automatic good day. :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1029015694" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Saturday</span></span>. SO FUN! On the plus side we got to do power hour on Prince Charming Lane! How many misisonaries can say they did that? Not many. But alas no prince charmings or charming anythings were found. But many seeds were planted and smiles were given. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">We then were able to have lunch with the Senior Missionaries that live right below us. The Tanners!!! They rock. Great healthy lunch and full of the spirit. It's amazing to hear the sacrifices others make, in this case for them they both are going through medical problems. Such faith! WE THEN GOT TO GO TO THE MORMON BATTALION WITH MARCO!!! That was sooo fun! I just love the Mormon Battalion! Always makes me feel good! And when Marco came he brought a 4 year old friend. And man was Adrianna a climber! She was pretty good though, but really cute. :) Marco is just doing awesome! He came to FHE last night, he unfortunately missed church because he was babysitting... BUT he is still motivated to be baptized! <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1029015695" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">July 2nd</span></span> here we come!!! :):):)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"> Then we ran home to have Thai food with our branch mission leader Kevan. Twas good and it brought me back to the day I opened my mission call. Right before I opened it I had Thai food with Roger and Kristine. Here I am over a year later. Time just flies! (yesterday I hit my 13 month mark.. yikes!)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1029015696" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span> is always a special day. Especially when you are in Santee. We didn't have any investiagtors at church, but that's ok! It's not for a lack of trying. That's for sure! But it was awesome once again to see all of our recent converts and friends who are trying to come back to church. Makes my heart smile. :) And miracle of all miracles! As our appointments cancelled for the night we pulled in to our apartment complex, and there we see Ilene! Not a while back we had given Ilene a Book of Mormon and were unable to set a return appointment. And we were praying that we would be able to run into her again! And here she was! We talked to her for a while and everytime she talked it was just like YOU NEED WHAT I HAVE!!! YOU NEED THE GOSPEL! So we offered it to her and she accepted! I'm sad I won't be able to meet with her but I know the Sisters will take care of her! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Ah <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1029015697" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Monday</span></span>. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1029015698" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Monday</span></span> we recieved a call from President receiving the news about transfers. I'm sad but really excited for another ward!!! The future is bright and so is my faith. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">In our zone we had zone meeting. What I learned from that is how important the spirit is and how important it is to love our enemies. When the spirit is not there it drains you more then when the spirit is there. I never want to be without the spirit for a moment in my life. No one should. The spirit is alwasy something to strive for! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6U8NHL3606nmYLDwhegdWS6Ncz4FFcP5LJosFJYxL3_noWnoWqg5y2WnLZ1A1OEO7OezgUcPPHkVHKugorx2eFfZ0hIzf0RnkuJrQNTJi5shyphenhyphenTlgddTijD6-xhZvFTOEWxNWdgYawhNQ/s1600/IMG_3317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6U8NHL3606nmYLDwhegdWS6Ncz4FFcP5LJosFJYxL3_noWnoWqg5y2WnLZ1A1OEO7OezgUcPPHkVHKugorx2eFfZ0hIzf0RnkuJrQNTJi5shyphenhyphenTlgddTijD6-xhZvFTOEWxNWdgYawhNQ/s640/IMG_3317.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Santee Zone </span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white;">We also got to see Eddie, he's doing awesome, hanging in there. Proud of him! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">We also had dinner with Dulce and Anthony, a hard goodbye! And the next time I see them they will probably be married! Lots of goodbyes and lots of teacing happened <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1029015699" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Monday</span></span>. Including Gail. When we told Gail we were leaving it was probably one of the most hardest of all, she almost made me cry. She's a sweet woman and I will miss her. As well as the Nelson family, I have seen them grow SO much! Repentance is such a blessing and we should take full advantage of it just like they did! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">And here I am, typing away with my new companion(s). It's a good life. It's mission life and I wouldn't change it for the world. I'll miss Santee but I know I'll LOVE Poway.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Sisters Whitcomb, Stirland, & Kratzer </span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white;">Just as much as I love all of you! I just want all of you to know that I trust the Lord. I trust him and I have faith that he will lead me in the right direction and I know that this is him leading me. How lucky I am.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I LOVE ALL OF YOU!!!!<br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Love, Sister Whitcomb</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">At transfers :) </span></td></tr>
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-91659283277015464652016-06-07T07:43:00.000-07:002017-04-14T07:53:38.619-07:00Marco Polo<blockquote style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" type="cite">
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<span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;">G'Day my family!</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">And happy early birthday to mi hermano Roger! My oh my, one year older and wiser too! Happy birthday to you! :) Hope it's a great one! And</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">birthday shout out to Funcle Aaron and cousin Cooper! I love you all!</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">And I loved this week! Very spiritual, full of miracles and I'm just</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">trying to sprint to get the work done everyday!</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">I truly am. I just have to make sure I feel effective while I do so. :)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">But <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_561602553" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Tuesday</span></span> night was awesome! The YW had asked us to come to one of their activities to answer any of the questions the young woman might have. So fun! It was a great time to bear testimony, share miracles, and share fun stories too! And when we asked them who wants to go on a mission, ALL OF THEIR HANDS WENT UP!!!! WOOOHOOOOO!!! That's what I'm talking about!!! :) :):) </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">We were able to sit down with good ol' John Stevenson, he's a recent convert that needs some help. And I love it when we can give it to people. You truly know when you've helped through what they say in their prayer. And his prayer was golden. Love John. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">And our tracking miracle of Daniel has to be put into the Lords</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">hands for now. I know down the road missionaries will be able to help</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">him, his heart just has to soften.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_561602554" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Wednesday</span></span> was the start of the miracle of Marco. Aka Marco Polo. ;)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">Marco was the YSA we street contacted in our parking lot and he has</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">just really grabbed ahold of this message. Since we've met with him,</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">he has come to church, he loved it and he especially loved the priesthood meetings. He's been researching on <span style="color: white;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://Mormon.org&source=gmail&ust=1492265714703000&usg=AFQjCNEr1RKgptyG0s9hWz2wYs3DwjCFDQ" href="http://mormon.org/" target="_blank">Mormon.org</a>, <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://LDS.org&source=gmail&ust=1492265714703000&usg=AFQjCNHC8Fy_aOfiA5uXao7xS5UJuQpuJQ" href="http://lds.org/" target="_blank">LDS.org</a>, </span>and listening to the Mormon Tabernacle choir on YouTube. AND he's downloaded every church app known to man, even the pamphlets app! I bet not all of you knew the church had one! :) Marco does! Marco is just so cool! And he wants to be BAPTIZED!!! I woke up to this amazing text, it was amazing enough to knock on the door of my companion going to the bathroom and excitedly tell her this text,</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">"Sorry this is so late but I've been doing some research and I would</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">really love for you to tell me how I can be baptized. I just felt</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">something as I was researching and I would love to be able to meet</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">with you <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_561602555" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">tomorrow</span></span>." (Something to that extent)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">WOW!! Marco why are you so cool? It's literally been just over a week!</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">And he's already been inviting people to his baptism, he's in 1 Nephi</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">13, he's just AWESOME!!!! And he's going to ask for <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_561602556" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday's</span></span> off</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">forever! He's a good man. :) And while one of the YSA at church was</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">welcoming they said they hoped to see him next week and Marco</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">responds, "Oh I'll be here, it'll help prepare for my baptism!" OH</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">he's so cool! And also the Elders had a baptism this past <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_561602557" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span> and</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">Marco came!!! He came!!! It was awesome. :) </span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YAmnyV0MtRWvhPhTB8JUsUHCQtyf8k007-gLsYFZYynoj54aY184oY8sR2_Wwc520TYKSWlpdFpZCHTAeD2HNJzJBtxxnyXbTQ2Gvn04QMbtTv8S3z9HXQmBsCCF0EAQvpQQPeKKYCc/s1600/IMG_5566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YAmnyV0MtRWvhPhTB8JUsUHCQtyf8k007-gLsYFZYynoj54aY184oY8sR2_Wwc520TYKSWlpdFpZCHTAeD2HNJzJBtxxnyXbTQ2Gvn04QMbtTv8S3z9HXQmBsCCF0EAQvpQQPeKKYCc/s400/IMG_5566.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" type="cite">
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<span style="color: white;">And on the plus side we</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">were able to present our fancy Restoration presentation complete with</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">technology and powerful testimonies from members. :) So yeah, Marco.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">WE also got to meet with some of our favorite recent converts, Vanessa</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">and Stacey! And Vanessa went to the Temple again this week! Yay!!</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">She's just eating it up. :) And Stacey just cracks me up! She had gone</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">to a Single adult activity with guest speakers, like JOHN BYETHEWAY!</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">Obviously super awesome. And she said she hadn't even sat down and</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">someone was already asking her to save him a dance. That's our Stacey!</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">:) And now she said when people try to hit on her in the grocery store</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
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<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">she has a line where she says,</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">"You can take me to Jamba Juice if you come to church with me."</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">MAN SHES AWESOME!!!! Great lady.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">Afterwards we went to go see a returning less active and followed the</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">spirit 100%. I know if we didn't we wouldn't of been able to go to the</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">root of the problem. And it's interesting that when people see that</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">other people know heir situations, they expect them to leave. But thats</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
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<span style="color: white;">not how I work! And it's all because of this gospel that has made me</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
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<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">that way, no matter what anyone has done I will NEVER turn them away.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">I will never be in the position to judge. Never.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Uns_bhDi0nDr23EjtH0BIJTzAEGeVdH-JlqoFfsNQz7QjUzqnZzj5rHun1DJf9GUP1TDAogUVPXo59Ayeyem40p7QODzuReATtjxTRe5z0znoHeKrC0HqsnmpaTtVKZuGghv4Q-pa_8/s1600/IMG_0038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Uns_bhDi0nDr23EjtH0BIJTzAEGeVdH-JlqoFfsNQz7QjUzqnZzj5rHun1DJf9GUP1TDAogUVPXo59Ayeyem40p7QODzuReATtjxTRe5z0znoHeKrC0HqsnmpaTtVKZuGghv4Q-pa_8/s400/IMG_0038.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: small;">Hot nights call for sleepovers in the room with the A/C</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<blockquote style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_561602558" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Thursday</span></span>. So in San Diego they have a saying for the weather. May doom June gloom July fry. Well apparently it's already July because it's</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">getting pretty toasty. And have no fear, the sunscreen is on! I also</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">love the Bishops family very much in the Grossmont Ward. We got to go over there for dinner and just the whole time all of them were talking</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">about how they had given copies of The Book of Mormon away and we</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">committed them to do more missionary work! They are just an AWESOME family! And then we were able to teach the man that walked into YSA sacrament meeting. Turns out he is 35 and lives in Lakeside. Really cool guy though. Lucky Elders! But we brought Eddie to the lesson, and Daniel really appreciated his testimony. Eddie ROCKS! Recent convert fire!! And Eddie has 2 investigators lined up for us! Totally prepared!</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">They want to come to church and get a tour! We can do that! Eddie is</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">totally fulfilling his calling as a branch missionary! :)</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">And the moment of truth. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_561602559" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Friday</span></span>. Another mission tour with Elder James</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">J. Hamula. Wow. He is another man filled with authority. And I'll just</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">try to sum up what I learned. </span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi063NpTgYOj9sl9pV2ynFwTebQO2_gIQE-K8gfBY7ZMXWaARhVDa2w6Lks4qBrcwJLwQVSEwldYmJY7xN0VuOOY7RsP49RQrxe7kUViU4vyW_Rb_i1thKpIXu99_5EkJ-6tEV3b1kWpSY/s1600/IMG_1540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi063NpTgYOj9sl9pV2ynFwTebQO2_gIQE-K8gfBY7ZMXWaARhVDa2w6Lks4qBrcwJLwQVSEwldYmJY7xN0VuOOY7RsP49RQrxe7kUViU4vyW_Rb_i1thKpIXu99_5EkJ-6tEV3b1kWpSY/s640/IMG_1540.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" type="cite">
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<span style="color: white;">Not only did he come to the mission but</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">we had a Mission Leadership Council afterwards too, and he came to</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">that! What really inspired me was the faith to start vs. the faith to</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">succeed! Our mission needs the faith to succeed! The faith needs to</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">keep going, keep growing. The faith to succeed focuses on others</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">rather then yourself. He also talked about the Doctrine of YOU. How</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">understanding who we are helps us to better understand the doctrine of</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">Christ. And now snip bits of my notes:</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">-When you have those hard days, you have a privilege of knowing</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">something about the master himself, especially when you are rejected,</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">PLEASE have the attitude of the Savior! "Forgive them, for they know</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
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<span style="color: white;">now what they do."</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">-You are BLESSED to have the Schmitts! If he were to have children to</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">go on missions, Elder Hamula would want them to come to a couple like</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">the Schmitts.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">-You're not a disobedient mission! Collectively. Do you want to take</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">it to the next level? Listen to what we just said of letting go of</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">casualness.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">-The Doctrine of YOU. Only when you begin to understand who you are you get the opportunity to understand the Doctrine of Christ. This</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">doctrine is not to take away from the Doctrine of Christ. When you</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">understand who you are, it's to understand your purpose more, and to</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">pursue your purpose with greater ENERGY!</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">-Who you are here now, you are among the most valiant of our sons and daughters of God. You fought valiantly for the Lord, you loved him</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">with all of your heart and souls. You knew the gospel and you gave</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">everything you had to the Great War that was had there. Because of</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">your exceeding love, courage, and for the Father and the great Plan of</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">Salvation, you were served for these last days to fight like you</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">fought before! What keeps you going? What keeps us going? It's the</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">assurance that this time it's different! Peter, James, John knew what</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">they were doing wouldn't last but they looked forward to this time</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">when it would be restored. You are them. That's the Doctrine of You.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">You simply need to recover what you already know, that's the value of</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">the spirit to bring back everything that was already said to you.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">-**ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE WHEN THE PRICE GOES UP?** It will always go up.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">-Goals are suppose to pull more out of you, that's what we want.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">Success is measured by the commitment and consecration. FOCUS ON THE STRETCH, getting that done. You set the plan to cause you to stretch. You are accountable to the Lord! These are YOUR goals.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">-These visits (Elder Holland & Hamula) put you under responsibility</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">now, to be different. It's not just suppose to make you feel better,</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">you are under obligation to do something wonderful.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">-You can see that the Lord loves you by placing you near people who</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">have a desire to strive back towards the Lord, just as you do.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">Great day, it was quite draining. The spirit does that to you I guess.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">And still when we sang the mission song. Powerful, every time. And we also sang Called to Serve. Powerful.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">Afterwards we went on splits and I got to see Doug! I've never seen</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">him so excited, it was nice to hear his appreciation towards me. Love</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">that family!</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_561602560" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Saturday</span></span> we had the baptism with Marco and it was a very green day. In other words a day of finding! And that's why I'm grateful for this trio</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">because through it all they keep me happy and laughing and motivated!</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">All GREAT things! :)</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilWGeoANRRcgUW-6EegruEV41y4lCydgx0kylLJM9vwC85E_fypWO7OJncsixqhT7cTMeD1bhyphenhyphenVdnNqV4ed5YcsiMbt_Y4_J0t9NxeXIF8JRv4BdCYZ0t5hBrxANZEfM4xHQddt5z13Q/s1600/IMG_2919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilWGeoANRRcgUW-6EegruEV41y4lCydgx0kylLJM9vwC85E_fypWO7OJncsixqhT7cTMeD1bhyphenhyphenVdnNqV4ed5YcsiMbt_Y4_J0t9NxeXIF8JRv4BdCYZ0t5hBrxANZEfM4xHQddt5z13Q/s400/IMG_2919.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">And we got to end our night at the Nelsons, I just</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">love that family! Seeing Brother Nelson not remember when he prayed</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">last to then praying in sacrament meeting and then doing family scripture study and prayer! Small miracles are actually big miracles! I'm so honored to of been able to teach this family. And now when we go over to teach them, they teach us! They just rock. And the Plan of</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">Salvation is always a good lesson to teach families.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">And <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_561602561" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span>. It was my fortunate opportunity to be able to bear</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">testimony in the Grossmont Ward. About my Savior and my love for him.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">Spirit was strong and so were the water works. But it was really nice</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">to walk down and get a hug from Stacey and then to see Sister Nelson,</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">who we taught the night before, say how grateful she was for us and</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">how much change her family has experienced. Just awesome! And also</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">what I loved is that now we are in a trio, while Sister Miole is in</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">YSA sacrament meeting Sister Purcell and I go to a part of Ward</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">council but by the time we get out we still have an hour before the</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">next sacrament meeting. So we go invite people to church! I think</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">that's the greatest and easiest thing we could ever do, and you could</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">tell people appreciated it. Even if we got no one to come with us, I</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">know it made a difference. So someday don't be surprised if I stop on</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">your door one <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_561602562" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span> morning. ;) And fun story, every night we usually</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">walk into a roasting apartment, and the a/c is in the study room, not</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">our bedroom and it doesn't circulate too well. So we brought all our</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">mattresses out and had a fun actual sleepover party! Best night ever!</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_561602563" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Monday</span></span> we did have to take our car to Pepboys to change our tires but</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">while we were there we got to teach the restoration! An almost</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">referral, so close! But it was awesome how even we weren't in the</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">streets Heavenly Father still placed someone in our path for us! :)</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
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</blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">And this morning for P-Day we went to the Temple. It's been forever</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">since I had gone last so it was SO nice to be there. I just felt so at</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">peace and I get so excited every time I'm in there! I literally feel</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">like a little girl on Christmas. I love the Temple. :):):):)</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQFd_z78jo8nV3p22NCbP7cXc-u33mXLbJisgK70U9ztU-0EoU1JbHWx6RQao2vv11ygcn9D2YtCEBT0tSwBWqS7Od7AF1IQpeCFK-KFGzA7aBy6SQV4cMTPRiXkqRbC8asvP01-K_Zo/s1600/IMG_5583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQFd_z78jo8nV3p22NCbP7cXc-u33mXLbJisgK70U9ztU-0EoU1JbHWx6RQao2vv11ygcn9D2YtCEBT0tSwBWqS7Od7AF1IQpeCFK-KFGzA7aBy6SQV4cMTPRiXkqRbC8asvP01-K_Zo/s640/IMG_5583.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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</blockquote>
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<span style="color: white;">AND I LOVE ALL OF YOU!!! I really appreciate all the support you give</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">me, it really helps me to keep sprinting, to talk to everyone I see,</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">to smile more, and to teach more by the spirit! Thanks for the</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">constant love and support! I hope you feel it coming right back at</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">you! :)</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span style="color: white;">Love, Sister Whitcomb</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-44285799429611616612016-05-31T13:42:00.000-07:002016-08-24T13:44:15.706-07:00know that I KNOW<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" type="cite">
My dearest loved ones,<br />
How art thou? I miss you all so much! I love where I am! I have had<br />
amazing spiritual experiences this week and I will try to type fast.<br />
;) MUCHOS Milagros.<br />
So, yes indeed, Sister Miole did arrive safely in San Diego. Right as<br />
we were done emailing and filled up our car tires we got a call, from<br />
President saying to make another trip over to the airport to pick up<br />
our companion! I love getting new companions, the first hug is always<br />
the best! :) She's super sweet, she's 22, and served for 6 months in<br />
the Quezon City north Philippines mission. She has excellent English,<br />
she just got along with us right away! She has 9 siblings and a<br />
strong testimony of the gospel! But since we picked up Sister Miole<br />
and President Schmitt had to go over some stuff with her we got to<br />
have dinner at the mission office! Win! I love the Schmitts. And we<br />
put the trio to work! </blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8awYfcs4IXuMwJBIwf051oFJCSZx-ehtyZnFjUTVcLzhYskYTy4G7D5r_zRMw2Qoiv2VLJGYT1QsTQbfgWNCTqwxU1V7UvwvWXZ6hxiRKh_wYfABEIERXdjfODAZ7YYWSsBs5fCL3kQ/s1600/image5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8awYfcs4IXuMwJBIwf051oFJCSZx-ehtyZnFjUTVcLzhYskYTy4G7D5r_zRMw2Qoiv2VLJGYT1QsTQbfgWNCTqwxU1V7UvwvWXZ6hxiRKh_wYfABEIERXdjfODAZ7YYWSsBs5fCL3kQ/s640/image5.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
California Burritos!!<br />
<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" type="cite">
We had a YSA member go with us to make daily contact with Gail, so I went with Katherine and then the other 2 went<br />
to go try some other people. We had a quick in and out lesson with<br />
Gail, whose baptism was AMAZING by the way! :) And when they came back<br />
they had added 2 investigators!!!!! WOOOHOOO!!!! Trio fire is BACK!<br />
They are the Touchet twins, Emma and Kate. They are 11 years old and<br />
really cute! They have been taught before but things came up. And now<br />
the Lord has prepared them even more! They said they wanted to be<br />
baptized! But they were scared to commit to a date. And when Sister<br />
Miole went back, they were still a little scared. It was so cute, one<br />
of them said, "I want to be baptized as soon as possible but I also<br />
want to wait..." We just need to get their whole family to church! And<br />
at the lesson I was at their was a miracle, we weren't able to<br />
find a member to come with us but when we got there the twins had a<br />
friend over and friend was a member! And they remembered going to her<br />
baptism! She even helped us teach, greatest member present ever! :)We<br />
are calling Sister Miole, Miracle Miole! Then we went over to our<br />
favorite, Stacey! She described to us this amazing dream she had where<br />
she had been healed and able to go back to work, but they put her in a<br />
closet. And in the closet part of it was completely white, and she<br />
heard this voice. It calmed her, but it was only in the closet. Then a<br />
woman in white appeared and told her she wanted to show her everyone<br />
else who was LDS. And they were all in white too. So cool. And a great<br />
transition into talking about the Temple! SHE WANTS TO GO!!!<br />
YAYYYY!!!!<br />
Then Wednesday was the last day for MTES. And I got to be in Santee<br />
with the lovely Sister Miole and Sister Cortello!!!!</blockquote>
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Ah I love Sister Cortello.<br />
<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" type="cite">
I went to the MTC with her. She is the sweetest missionary<br />
ever and reminds me a TON of Sister Pilkington! :) It was a miraculous<br />
day! We got to see Vanessa who has been fighting her own battles and<br />
we were able to show her the Mormon message, "You never know." It's a<br />
good one, you all should watch it and then watch it again. :) We then<br />
treated Sister Miole to her first outing at In-N-Out Burger, she's so<br />
funny. :) She refuses to eat vegetables, no matter how tiny, but don't<br />
worry we are working on her slowly, she ate a tiny salad last night.<br />
:) Then we had a great daily contact with Gail with the perfect member<br />
present, I love it when that happens. :) But poor Gail she went to the<br />
doctor and realized she has to have surgery, and recently without<br />
knowing it she had 2 strokes! Satan is just flinging everything at<br />
her! She's making it though. :) We then ran over to Ilene and Johns,<br />
who Sister Purcell and I had found a couple of days ago. We taught the<br />
Restoration and John was singing and crying throughout the whole<br />
thing. He's an amazing guy. When we got to The Book of Mormon, he said<br />
he had read the whole thing! I asked him if he knew it was true, he said<br />
YES. Sister Cortello then invited him to be baptized, he said,<br />
"Probably." We asked him why he said that, he then goes onto say, "I<br />
don't want to get water in my ears, I'm afraid of water." Hm. Well we<br />
then testified to him about the importance of following Christ. He<br />
started crying, he loves Christ so dearly. We invited him to be<br />
baptized on July 2nd and he said, "Probably." Ay John. We committed him to<br />
pray about it. And then last night some of the greatest members, the<br />
Astes, invited them over to dinner and to have a lesson in their home.<br />
It was wonderful! Spirit was strong and the Astes were amazing hosts!<br />
And as we again started to talk about the Book of Mormon, he hadn't read it<br />
and he hadn't prayed about baptism. I can now understand how our<br />
parents and especially Heavenly Father get frustrated when we don't do<br />
things we know we are supposed to. But repentance is real and<br />
hopefully John will take a hold of the opportunity! But back to<br />
Wednesday, we then afterwards went over to Brother Nelsons, who has<br />
recently been coming back to church.</blockquote>
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But due to Sister Cortello being a genius and a great missionary...<br />
<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" type="cite">
especially with inspired questions,<br />
we ended up teaching repentance and it was awesome! Great guy.<br />
The follow up to MTE was also fantastic! Here are some of the cool<br />
lessons that I had learned and wrote down:<br />
<br />
-When the wheat is white, it means it's ready to spoil, so we have to<br />
RUN. Don't lose them. (In reference to D&C 4)<br />
-"I believe their can be no casual Christians. If their are casual<br />
Christians, then they will become Christians Casualties." - Elder<br />
Jeffrey R. Holland<br />
-chase out darkness, by following-up<br />
-*Don't look back* What helps us over come EVERYTHING is asking if we<br />
love God. If you're not committed to this work, you don't fully love<br />
him.<br />
-The white handbook are commandments to us and we have covenanted to<br />
keep them. -your mission should change your ministry for the rest of<br />
your life. Always do what Christ teaches you.<br />
<br />
All good things. And then after MTES we celebrated by getting Sister<br />
Miole her first California burrito! She loves everything meat! :) We<br />
then headed over to the Whitlocks to try Doreen, their neighbor who we<br />
did service for, she was too sick. So we then tried their neighbor<br />
they referred us to, he was too sad. Better luck next time! The<br />
Whitlocks are awesome though, I'll miss them when they are in Colorado<br />
for the summer! But we saw a MILAGRO at dinner! We were at the Wyers<br />
and their daughter brought her nonmember friend over, Kelsey. We<br />
taught the restoration, she accepted a copy of The Book of Mormon and<br />
she couldn't set a return appt but she said we would see her at<br />
church, hopefully soon! So cool! And she's YSA age! MILAGROS!! The<br />
Bishop was also able to come over with us to Gail and they had a good<br />
heart to heart. Bishops are great like that. :)<br />
And then the day finally came, Friday! The day when we all got blown<br />
away from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. I wish I could of just recorded it<br />
and send it to you, so good. But I will do my best to sum it up. I was<br />
asked to play the piano and I played prelude for 1 hour, they asked us<br />
to be there super early and we practiced singing the mission song<br />
before he came, and man oh man. Talk about power! President Schmitt<br />
had asked us to truly prepare ourselves and sanctify ourselves in<br />
every way possible, and walking into that chapel you can tell everyone<br />
did. The spirit was so strong and it was even stronger when we sang our<br />
mission song. Here are the words:<br />
<br />
"A marvelous work is about to come forth among the children<br />
of men. O ye that embark in the service of God, Serve him with<br />
all your heart. The field is white and is ready to harvest, and ye are<br />
called to the work. So thrust in your sickle with all of your<br />
might; Labor to do your part. For faith, hope, and charity,<br />
virtue, humility qualify you for the work. Remember the worth of<br />
souls is great in the sight of God, and great will be your<br />
joy. When you seek first the kingdom of God and labor all<br />
of your days To bring forth the cause of Zion Amen and<br />
Amen." (Second verse​ : Half the group repeats 1​ the other half<br />
sings “The Spirit of God”)<br />
<br />
So powerful! When Elder Holland walked in, boom power. He's also<br />
shorter then you would think but that's beside the point. ;) He's<br />
double the power! Everyone went around to shake his hand and I played<br />
the piano as they did that. But lucky for me a nice woman offered to<br />
play for me so I could go shake his hand. I said my name and where I<br />
was from, he looked into my soul and said, "Welcome." And then I went<br />
back to the piano and as he came up on the stand he approached me<br />
again, shook my hand and said, "I am so grateful that your Mom made<br />
you practice all those years!" Once again, thanks Mom! But what made me<br />
so happy is that as he approached the stand he said he was pleased to<br />
report that as he was shaking our hands he had interviewed each and<br />
every one of us. That he truly didn't care where we were from and he<br />
wasn't going to remember our names, he just wanted us to be there long<br />
enough so he could interview us. Intense. And he said he was pleased<br />
to report that we are a very obedient mission and that only a few of<br />
us were struggling, and then He said, "Welcome to life." Haha good<br />
man. He spoke for about 90 minutes and in those minutes it was life<br />
changing. He told us that it had been 53 years since he came back from<br />
his mission and that every day since then he has thought of his<br />
mission. Their hasn't been a day that's gone by that he hasn't thought<br />
of his mission. He then started to talk about how we can NEVER go back<br />
to where we were before our mission. Even with his fist slamming on<br />
the pulpit and everything, President Schmitt even widened his eyes<br />
when he did that. So powerful, he just put tears in my eyes! He talked<br />
about how we are the most important convert we could ever make on our<br />
mission, and if we've at least done that, we would of been successful.<br />
And he told us that we are the shepards, and that no one should be<br />
looking for us. And I could go on and on. But here are some great<br />
quotes from him:<br />
<br />
-I want you to love every minute of your mission; to cherish your mission.<br />
-"This is your apostolic moment." You are “little a” apostles. You are<br />
doing work as close to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and First<br />
Presidency as you will ever have.<br />
-"The most important thing in the universe is the salvation of a human soul.”<br />
-I cannot promise you any number of other converts, but I promise and<br />
demand at least one convert – yourself. You are the most important<br />
convert.<br />
-"You can never go back to what you were before!”<br />
-“You are God’s investigators and He is teaching you lessons.”<br />
-LOVE THE BOOK OF MORMON. Go home with a testimony of its divinity.<br />
This is the keystone of your life.<br />
<br />
And then to make it even better, after he left, the Assistants<br />
announced that next week, June 3, we will be having another Mission<br />
Tour with Elder James Hamula! And he's coming to MLC too! Yes, we are<br />
a blessed mission. Time to sanctity myself even more! And right after<br />
that when we got into our area, we got bible bashed pretty hard core.<br />
But hey, it didn't matter, because the Savior was standing right<br />
beside me as it was happening. It doesn't change anything.</blockquote>
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And then to make it even better, Gail got baptized on Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
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Ah. I honestly never pictured that day till it happened. Who would of known that talking to a woman at her car would lead her to being with her Heavenly Father someday.<br />
Everything you do and say matters, it leads to something. Gail is a<br />
miracle. It was a wonderful service, great talks, music, and then the<br />
baptism. I'm not sure if I told you but Gail is PETRIFIED of water. It<br />
was a huge leap of faith, but she took the leap! And by her own<br />
request she was baptized forward. Whatever works! It was done by the<br />
priesthood and she went fully under so we are good! We then presented<br />
the Restoration which was so powerful because we had 3 members help us<br />
by bearing short and sweet testimony of one principle in the<br />
restoration, really powerful. And Gail was just beaming after her<br />
baptism and what made it even better was that she walked out bare<br />
foot. Nice. :) I love her and I'm so happy she is a member of the<br />
church now! And then we had a miracle at night, as we got out of<br />
eating dinner I saw someone in the parking lot and I walked after him<br />
and started talking. He was going to get his hair cut but he said we<br />
could come back later and teach him! Sweet! So he called us when he<br />
was done and we went on over. His name is Marco and he is awesome! We<br />
taught him the restoration and we added him! And the we met with him<br />
again on Monday, he had read up to 1 Nephi 6! And when he was telling<br />
us what it was about he restated the stories perfectly! And he didn't<br />
even look at the book! He hadn't prayed about it yet, the puzzle is<br />
almost complete! :) He does have a concern with some of the<br />
commandments but he's very open and wants to know the truth. He said<br />
he would be baptized! I'm excited to work with him more.<br />
Sunday we had a huge miracle. The first miracle was I remembered how<br />
to work the organ, they asked me to play in YSA. But the actual<br />
miracle was when a random man walked into the church. His name is<br />
Daniel. He's an older YSA And he has read through the Book of Mormon<br />
and the Doctrine and Covenants. He was offended by some missionaries<br />
in the past but his friend I<br />
Who introduced him to the church was really pushing for him to go so<br />
he came. He had some interesting questions, very tiny details. But all<br />
I could tell him to do was read and pray. We set an appt for Monday<br />
but he rescheduled. Ah well, Thursday will come! So that was a major<br />
MILAGRO! And the other one was that Gail got confirmed! Yay! And also<br />
I got a wedding invite to one of our recent converts wedding in<br />
Hawaii. So cute! AND STACEY GOT A CALLING!! She's so excited and I'm<br />
so excited for her! She went to a devotional this week where John<br />
Byetheway spoke! Super jealous! She loved it! We then had a miraculous<br />
dinner at our YSA RS presidents house where her atheist friend was<br />
there. And missionaries have tried to help him many times but he's<br />
pretty closed. But then he just asked us a question about prayer and<br />
it was awesome. We gave him a talk to read, he said he would read it.<br />
The Lord is preparing Hunter surely yet slowly. It was awesome! We<br />
then awesomest the night with an awesome street contact where many<br />
people are ready to listen to us! Yay!<br />
Monday Monday. Always a fun day! I just love my trio, I love trios in<br />
general! They hasten the work and it's super fun! We had the senior<br />
luncheon for the missionaries and Gail even came! So sweet! We had a<br />
lesson with Gail on family history and she is so excited to go to the<br />
Temple! Yay! And the YSA had a fun FHE tonight with a BBQ and bouncy<br />
house! It was hilarious and many less actives and nonmembers came so<br />
that we awesome! :) We stopped by Junior Raglands as well and they<br />
have a tough situation where they have to move and haven't found a<br />
place yet. My heart goes out to them, I have faith God will take care<br />
of them!<br />
I know God is taking care of me too, I have seen so many miracles on<br />
my mission. I can't even begin to express and I know do an awful job<br />
through email. But I just want all of you to know that I KNOW that this<br />
is where God wants me to be, that this is his church, and his work. No<br />
doubt about it. I know The Book of Mormon was written for me and for<br />
YOU! All we have to do is read and apply. Miracles will happen, I've<br />
seen it with my own eyes. God is good and he is here with us. I'm so<br />
lucky to be a representative of Jesus Christ. I try to honor and live<br />
up to it everyday. Thank you all for your endless support, I'll always<br />
remember and cherish it. I love you!<br />
<br />
Love, Sister Whitcomb</blockquote>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-60939133823183174252016-05-24T13:27:00.000-07:002016-08-24T13:44:41.584-07:00...a simple talk...<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Greetings from the promised land! :)</div>
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Beautiful is the work here in Santee! And these 2 Sister missionaries</div>
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are pressing forward with steadfast faith in Christ! I love all of</div>
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you, I appreciate the faithful emailers and letter writers. Where love</div>
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is, I know you'll be there! :) And the spirit will be with you too!</div>
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Thankfully the spirit was with us as we traveled through Santee,</div>
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sometimes blindly. ;)</div>
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But Tuesday night was glorious. President has recently emphasized the</div>
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importance of personal daily contact when someone has a baptismal date</div>
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in 2 weeks, and so we are doing it with Gail. BECAUSE HER BAPTISM IS</div>
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ON SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!! Can you believe it? Crazy stuff. I can't believe</div>
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a simple talk at someone's trunk of their car, can lead to Baptism! We</div>
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were talking to Gail and she couldn't believe it either. Satan truly</div>
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hits hard right before baptism, and hard he has hit. It's so hard to</div>
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watch her struggle and be so sad. So ma y things have happened to her</div>
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but I love her for her willingness to adapt and overcome and press</div>
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forward. We will get her to Saturday! Prayers would always be</div>
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appreciated. :) But the members have been awesome and I know even</div>
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amongst Gail's scary life, she has a home here! So we met with her</div>
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briefly and then the activity day girls, the girls in the church ages</div>
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8-11, had asked us to come be and answer a few questions about</div>
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missionary life. It was very cute, so many fun questions and we got to</div>
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know them all very well. And even better their were 2 Unbaptized girls</div>
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there. It was nice we had an opportunity to bear our testimonies. This</div>
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church is AWESOME!! Then we went over to Staceys. She amazes me!</div>
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Usually when people are hit with trials, it's before baptism, hers are</div>
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after. Because of the decision she has made many friends have left her</div>
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and not said such nice remarks. She has held strong and responded with</div>
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the upmost maturity and spirit. She's awesome and she has totally</div>
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transformed before my eyes, it's a miracle! And I know if she wouldn't</div>
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have had this physical trial, she wouldn't have found the gospel, she even</div>
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said it herself. And she's very grateful for it! :) And so am I.</div>
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Wednesday. Crazy busy, IT WAS AWESOME! We did our last day at the</div>
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booth because finals are this week and summer is coming! So the flow</div>
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of traffic at the institute has slowed down and will stop. But we went</div>
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out victorious! We talked to many people but the one that stands out</div>
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is Tyrone, I stop him by asking what makes him the most happiest. And</div>
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we get into this conversation how he's a dancer and life makes him</div>
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happy and I somehow transition it into the gospel and I could just see</div>
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his countenance change before me. :) We are excited to talk to him</div>
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after finals end. Then we prepared to give training on how to extend</div>
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invitations on The Book of Mormon and prayer for MTEs. Sadly Rose and</div>
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Sean cancelled on us. We had to drop Rose because she is just not</div>
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communicating with us and she didn't come to church. We love her and</div>
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miss her. But Sean came to the YSA activity that night, sports night!</div>
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And as we were driving away we saw hi just hitting it off with the</div>
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YSA, made us smile. :) We then did service for our high priest group</div>
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leader, Brother Bostic. He had reverse shoulder surgery and can't do</div>
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yard work. So we got to weed and trim hedges, always good for the</div>
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soul. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIn5RlfYB4y59MSx9Px9BJSHTbp7HHRsjPACNG458XFjskku4PHJFxLDeu39QNFycFuLkBMwfULc86XJh8TR5DnOCtl5HUJFjUcPom0oCqn0ByGKca10a_RDP-QrOwpyJF6wKxZ7_s04o/s1600/image3+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIn5RlfYB4y59MSx9Px9BJSHTbp7HHRsjPACNG458XFjskku4PHJFxLDeu39QNFycFuLkBMwfULc86XJh8TR5DnOCtl5HUJFjUcPom0oCqn0ByGKca10a_RDP-QrOwpyJF6wKxZ7_s04o/s640/image3+%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Thursday. MTES!!!! It was actually MTES for our zone and then for 3 of</div>
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the Sisters we are over. Craziness! But it always makes me a better</div>
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missionary. Our training went really great and it's always nice to</div>
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have missionaries walk up to you and say you helped them receive</div>
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revelation. 3 cheers for making a difference! But I was fortunate</div>
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enough to stay in Santee and be with Sister Eging.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bk-64CqNMMnipSnobijoC69zvbTbArTyc0xSzSq8F3guRjwwacYMPay-Bc2U4N73iFM-o6StiVbUWHBdVk-J29DzKYTZniG9fWdsmcELcVVFIiSGwRIPBHvRPmits37amGwPNDVcnSs/s1600/image4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bk-64CqNMMnipSnobijoC69zvbTbArTyc0xSzSq8F3guRjwwacYMPay-Bc2U4N73iFM-o6StiVbUWHBdVk-J29DzKYTZniG9fWdsmcELcVVFIiSGwRIPBHvRPmits37amGwPNDVcnSs/s640/image4.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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Sister Eging is</div>
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currently serving in Hillsdale/Jamul!!!!! My home!! :) She is a temple</div>
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square sister and is on her outbound. She's from Virginia, Falfax I</div>
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believe she said, near DC. SHES AWESOME!! We just started teaching</div>
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right away as I treated her to a California burrito. To these 2 sweet</div>
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women, they loved us, but weren't quite interested in the message that</div>
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we were sharing. BUT I did learn how gentle of a teacher Sister Eging</div>
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is. Instant spirit, it amazes me!</div>
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We then got to teach a bunch of</div>
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recent converts including DJ, who has cool green hair. Good guy. We</div>
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then drove out to Lakeside to contact a referral, who is interested,</div>
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just busy. I then felt prompted to walk up to the neighbors house and</div>
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we started to talk to Octavio. He is from Mexico, has been to an LDS</div>
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church before, and traveled all the way to his home in Mexico to give</div>
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his family a Book of Mormon. He was an awesome referral for the</div>
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Hermanas! After dinner we taught our tracking miracle, Daniel. He</div>
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finally took a copy of The Book of Mormon! HALLELUJAH!! I'm telling</div>
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you, Sister Egings gentle voice, works miracles! We then went over to</div>
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teach 2 less active families. One was really chaotic, the other</div>
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spiritual. Love to hear people's testimonies of how the priesthood can</div>
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bless and in their case, save life's! As we were on the way back to</div>
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our apartment, we street contacted a man who has been to a family home</div>
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evening before, Hector. We are excited to teach him. God is amazing!</div>
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Friday we had MTE follow up and got to hear all the amazing miracles!</div>
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And President Schmitt is a amazing disciple of Jesus Christ, as is his</div>
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lovely wife, Sister Schmitt. She just had surgery the day before and</div>
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then the next day she just walked into our MTE follow up, she's so</div>
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amazing, inspiring. This was also a go go go day! We did power hour in</div>
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El Cajon with the executive secretary of the YSA, Andrew, he's fun. We</div>
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saw a lot of miracles! Got a referral for the Arabic elders, the</div>
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Hermanas, and the Bostonia elders. Marie. Marie is from Rhode Island</div>
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and is going through and hard time. We just bounded since we are both</div>
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from the east coast and she just instantly trusted me. She misses it</div>
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so I told her I would put her in my suitcase when I go home. She keeps</div>
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reminding me about it. :) But she is struggling and needs the gospel,</div>
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we introduced her to the Elders the next day and the pass off lesson</div>
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went really well. She has touched me heart and I was grateful to of</div>
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been a part in this process for her. Then we went to the Mormon</div>
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Battalion with Gail and our member Sister Creemens! She loved it!</div>
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And</div>
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I always do, makes my day! Visitor centers are just awesome. (shout</div>
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out to Sister Parsons! :)) And the picture I'll attach below, Gail</div>
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doesn't like to smile for some reason. Haha but she's so sweet! Later</div>
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at night we got to meet with Julie and I am just blown away at how</div>
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mature she is! Everything we talk about, she totally understands but</div>
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not just understands, lives, even when her family does not sometimes.</div>
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I love her.</div>
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Saturday. We finally squeezed in weekly planning. And we were also</div>
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able to squeeze in Stacey for lunch, she took us to get real Mexican</div>
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food. It was so fun! I love Stacey! I hope all of you will meet her</div>
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someday, she makes me laugh and cry! :) Gail passed her baptismal</div>
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interview that day with soaring colors! When our district leader</div>
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walked out he shook her hand and smiled and said, "Just remember,</div>
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you're an amazing and very special person." It was very touching. And</div>
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we finally got to meet with a less active,, he's an Uncle of an Elder</div>
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who is serving in the mission. He is coming back to church after 20</div>
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years, he bought a Book of Mormon on his own and started praying!</div>
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That's every missionary's dream to hear that! :)</div>
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Then Sunday, what a holy day. Gail came to church 30 minutes early!</div>
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She's awesome. :) Stacey was there, and Vanessa, John, Anthony, DJ,</div>
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Denver, Eddie, so many recent converts it made my heart swell! :) Then</div>
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after church we ran over to teach a less active YSA, who lives in our</div>
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family Ward boundaries. We walk in and her Mom sits in with us, she's</div>
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a nonmember. And she was very participative! AND SO WE FOUND A NEW</div>
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INVESTIGATOR!!! HALLELUJAH!!!! :):):):):)::) I always squeal after we</div>
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get in the car when we find a new investigator, just ask Sister</div>
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Purcell. :) I'm excited for her and she said when she comes to know</div>
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these things are true she would be baptized! WOOHOOO!!!</div>
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Monday. Are always the best! So refreshed from Sunday and ready to see</div>
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Miracles! We started off by doing service for the Whitlocks neighbors,</div>
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our cute older friends. Their friends name is Darlene and she had</div>
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lupus. She's in a lot of pain and we were able to help her move stuff</div>
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around, she's still,unpacking from moving. The Whitlocks have been</div>
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very helpful to her and they suggested that we go help her and she</div>
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accepted! And at the end she asked if we could come back and the. We</div>
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asked if we could share a message. She said she had been wanting to</div>
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hear about The Book of Mormon! So Brother Whitlock was able to give</div>
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her a Book of Mormon with his testimony in it. :) Then we had lunch</div>
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with them since they are going to Colorado for the summer. We will</div>
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miss them dearly! But at lunch we challenged them to think of someone</div>
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who could use the Plan of Salvation. They accepted the challenge. Not</div>
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too long later we got a call from Brother Whitlock saying their</div>
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neighbors wife just passed away and he wouldn't mind a visit! These 2</div>
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just rock!!!! We met with Eddie for his last lesson, he is just on</div>
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fire! He watched all of the district episodes. He is awesome! And</div>
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totally awesome news! On Sunday we got a text from the Lake side</div>
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Elders saying they had talked to a TAYLOR MCDANIEL!!!!! And that she</div>
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wanted us to get in contact with her so she can get back to church!</div>
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FYI Taylor is my first convert from way back when and we thought she</div>
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had moved to La Mesa.... So we tried her on Monday! I saw her Mom, but</div>
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she said Taylor was sleeping. We will get her! I love her so. :) But</div>
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in the mean time we have 2 referrals for the Lakeside Elders!</div>
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WOOHOO!!! We the. Brought Stacey to meet Gail, Stacey rocked it! She</div>
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just needs a name tag and Gail loved her! I love these 2 women and now</div>
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they know each other. Life complete! :) Then in the last hour of the</div>
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night we went to go welcome a new move in into the Ward. We walk in,</div>
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and see she has a husband, he's a hoot! John. He's an older man with</div>
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all the stories! We find our he's very religious, has had 3 near death</div>
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experiences, and he's been to church but he has not been taught by the</div>
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missionaries! What? THEY SAID WE COULD TEACH HIM!!! Woohoo, he's a</div>
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sweetheart! I'm excited! See, repentance is possible at any age! :)</div>
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And also we had s fun night. We finished planning, all was well, and</div>
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then the phone rang. President Schmitt. That's when the hearts start</div>
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beating loudly. He called us and told us their is a Sister from the</div>
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Phillipines who just got her VISA and is coming to the mission! She</div>
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has been serving their for 6 months and he wanted her to join us for</div>
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the next 3 weeks. Oh boy! Trio life for me! We were suppose to pick</div>
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her up at the airport at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_260949946" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">1 pm</span></span>, we got there, met President Schmitt,</div>
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and waited. Nothing. We are in the process of trying to figure out</div>
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where she is. Prayers appreciated. But we know she's in the Lords</div>
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hands, possibly stuck in customs. I will let you know next week!! So</div>
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exciting!</div>
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I love you all. And most importantly I know the Lord loves you ALL.</div>
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Never forget, always thank him and put your FULL faith in him. Keep</div>
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going, I'm cheering for you!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Love, Sister Whitcomb</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-21064072265622018482016-05-17T19:50:00.000-07:002016-05-31T19:51:30.940-07:00Missionary Work is a Labor of Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>With the Cute Chula Vista Sisters and Sister Schmitt!</b></div>
Fear not! For I bring you good tidings of great joy from the land of Santee! And a lot of love too! There can never be too much love, I've definitely learned that. Everything I do is out of love, but not just love for anyone, it's the love that I have for the Lord that I do these things. The greatest and most important kind of love! This week was full of a lot of love. :)<br />
First of all I'll just start out with the love I have for my companion is unreal. Australia is awesome everyone! And the people are even better! Sister Purcell shows her love for me all the time and I don't think I've met a better hugger. She helps me improve, and she's helped me grow a lot. Probably the most since my training. She rocks. I couldn't say enough good things about her! I hope you all get to meet her, and the rest of my companions. They are all equally as awesome!<br />
But Tuesday night. What a night. A very spiritual one for me. We met with Stacey, always a highlight of my day! It was the first lesson since her baptism, and she talked about that night she went to bed and she felt like something was off, not normal. And she realized that for the first time, she had no pain. No pain. God is a god of miracles. She talked about how when they gave her the gift of the Holy Ghost she could physically feel the power of the priesthood in her hands. She said they could have just stood there and not said anything and she would have been fine, it was that strong for her. I hope you all can meet her too, I love her. She's family. Also the power of the priesthood was able to bless my companion and I that same night where our favorite Brother Whitlock agreed to give us blessings, so powerful. And he gave us assignments to do throughout the week. He just had me in tears, what a powerful man. And then on Sunday he approached and gave us two nice folders with a bunch of notes and favorite scriptures that have helped him. He is the best and he definitely exercises and magnifies his priesthood! And I am grateful for it. :)<br />
Then Wednesday it was reconfirmed to me that even one soul is worth everything. So we have been trying to meet with this referral for a long time, Missy. And it finally happened, and she decided to bring her 21 year old son, Sean. So we called our branch mission leader over, Kevan. They both got there and Sean proclaimed to be agnostic and told us four times throughout the lesson what the definition of agnostic is. So we, as the unworthy humans we are, assumed we were there more to help Missy. Boy were we wrong. When we started talking about living prophets, Joseph Smith, and The Book of Mormon, she was not having it. But as she would rebuttal, Sean would defend the church. I think my favorite line from him was, talking to his Mom, "I don't know if this is blasphemous, but what if you just read it?" (referring to The Book of Mormon.) IT WAS AWESOME!!! And he said he would evidently be interested in learning more and coming to church!!!<br />
WOOHOOOOOO!!! Miracles all around.<br />
We also had dinner with an older couple and they brought a friend over who has been less active and when we shared the restoration she really enjoyed us and asked us to come visit her! Another WOOOHOOOO!!! We also were able to do the booth and we tried a new approach where we set up a huge picture of La Jolla Temple and started asking people survey questions, like, "What makes you the most happy?" And transitioned it into the gospel, always. It was awesome and we got so many awesome people who want to meet with us! WOOOHOOOO!!!!! And also the coolest thing, Gail Ward, our investigator, has been coming to church and this group of older women in the ward have just taken her under their wing. Sister Purcell and I like to call them "The Golden Girls." They truly are golden! Six of them put on this lunch for Gail and they had us teach a lesson! It was awesome, they all got to know Gail and Gail really appreciated it!<br />
Missionary dreams do come true! :)<br />
Then Thursday we had another successful day at the booth with the same tactics and the same results. :)<br />
It was sweet!<br />
Then we weekly planned, dinner at the Leavitts who we love and are missionaries! They are always willing to have investigators over for dinner. :) And both of our wards had a Relief Society activity the same night, in the same building, at the same time! So easy and fun to hop from both of them and meet new people and get to know the friends they brought, great stuff! Next time you have an activity, bring a friend! It will make the missionaries day, but most importantly the Lord's and that is who really matters!<br />
Friday. CRAZY TIMES. I truly felt like a Sister Training Leader that day. Right after our studies we got a call from these sisters asking if they could go on an exchange. To say the least, I enjoyed the day in Chula Vista, gave a lot of hugs, and listened a lot. People have hard lives, and missions just make it a teensy bit stressful. I'm grateful for the specific calling that I'm in right now where I can provide counsel and comfort. It's awesome.<br />
Saturday.<br />
What a day, after we tried to figure out what was going on with the sisters, Sister Purcell and I drove off to teach a YSA. It's sad to see what Satan will do to these people, but I know the Lord sends us to fortify and strengthen them! We also had a wonderful lunch with a YSA member and helped her do missionary work. We did some service in another jungle for a potential investigator we found through a street contact and she has been to the Mormon church, raised on it for a little bit. Just never joined. Not yet anyways! :) That will be a fun project! Then we met with a part member family, the Delgados, sweet people who have a lot of questions. Man it was just one after the other, boom, Boom, BOOM!!! And tiny miracle we were finally able to meet with Junior, right outside his house. He was a little distracted but we learned he reads from The Book of Mormon for children when he is in the car! He's awesome, he says the sweetest prayers! He didn't come to church and missed his appointment yesterday, but still an awesome kid!<br />
Sunday was really draining. But really awesome. I had an amazing experience partaking of the Sacrament and I was in YSA this week while Sister Purcell was in Grossmont, splits every Sunday! And I got to go to a linger longer! Love those things! And YSA is just fun, and it made me so happy to see a lot of recent converts there! :)<br />
GAIL CAME TO CHURCH!!! Only two more weeks til her baptism, May 28th here we come!!!!!!! :) :) :) :) And she's so excited to go to the Temple! YAY!<br />
We are hoping to go to the Mormon Battalion with her on Friday. Then after high wards we zoomed over to Elijah's, a less active YSA, Zane had a really cool lesson where his Sister even sat in and he testified to her about the Book of Mormon and the restoration. It was awesome! Then we zoomed over to lunch/dinner with the Hoffmans! Love that cute family! And then we zoomed over to Poway for the Mission President's Devotional! It was so fun, I was able to accompany the choir on the piano and the flute! I haven't played the flute in a year! But it was awesome and really uplifting for me to play it. On the flute I performed with the choir, Love One Another. She had me do a verse a cappella, then with the piano, then with the choir, a fancy part. Then I accompanied some Elders singing and then one of her then Sister Purcell. She CRUSHED it! So proud, she sang "Blessed Be His Name." Spirit was strong. And the testimonies were equally as strong. Love those!<br />
Then Monday was our first MTE! (Missionary Training Experience, where we get some training, go on exchanges with the sisters to apply it and then the next day return and report.) I was able to be with Sister Atwood in Santee! I think the coolest miracle we saw was when Junior's appointment fell through, we went to go try a less active family, and all of a sudden, BOOM, Rose, our Investigator who we haven't been able to get in contact with or see and she didn't show up to church, was right there! It was crazy! God must really love her, and he loves us too!<br />
We were able to read a little bit from The Book of Mormon with her and testify of its truthfulness, set a return appointment, and she should be on the uphill! :) :) :) :)<br />
Tender mercy.<br />
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<b>With my favorite Canadian, Sister Atwood!</b></div>
Another funny moment was when we saw this purse just sprawled on the side of the road, looked like someone had stolen it, gone through it, and left it. So we tried to see fit here was a phone number, and found one. She's a Jehovah's Witness! Nice woman. She was very grateful! We also taught Eddie, who is preparing to go on a mini mission! He said by the end of the year.<br />
YAYYYY!!! Then met with Vanessa too, she's still one of my favorites and such a sweetheart!<br />
Some of my favorite tidbits of knowledge from this past couple days of training was:<br />
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-"…the crowning characteristic of love is always loyalty…"<br />
-"Missionary work is a labor of love."<br />
-"I will do anything to sustain the prophets of God." - President Schmitt<br />
-"Preparation is everything<br />
-"Don't do the comfortable thing, always extend invitations."<br />
-Be bold with yourself.<br />
-You don't have to convince anyone, the Lord is preparing people ahead of us.<br />
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I have learned so much and yet I see how many things I still have to learn. I'm on full throttle right now and pledging myself to the Lord. Thank you for all of your support, love and kindness, it truly is appreciated.<br />
Know that I love you and that I'm cheering for you!<br />
Love,<br />
Sister Whitcomb<br />
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<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-81634309354597919972016-05-10T19:22:00.000-07:002016-05-29T19:49:44.879-07:00#20!!Hola hola hola!!!<br />
Buenos Dias! Ah I can't believe I only saw you a couple days ago... Weird. But it was AWESOME!!! I'm sorry you couldn't see my face but I'm glad you could hear my voice. And shout out to RODGE PODGE for asking an inspired question and making me cry. Kudos. I'm sorry it was scattered and hectic but I appreciated hearing all of your voices. You all made me want to be a better missionary and make these last 6 months be the best they can. I will definitely keep my promise and work my hardest. Prayers are appreciated. :)<br />
This week as a servant of the Lord was a miraculous one. Tuesday night we had power hour and went out with our YSA Relief Society President, Bailie. She's a boss and makes me laugh. I love her, she works so hard and I love working hard with her. The Relief Society is small right now but we are mighty! Great day. Great night. Oh and P.S. there is a new Elder in our zone and he's from Massachusetts! So weird! He's from Acton I believe and he knows the Jeffrey's! He loves the Jeffrey's. Really small world. His name is Elder Newey.<br />
Wednesday. Was my last day as a teenager. Weird, but awesome. My favorite part of the day was when I was able to give a Book of Mormon to my neighbor and testify to her of the truthfulness. I love telling people how much it means to me and how I want to give it to them. Most people appreciate it, she did, and I loved her reaction. She wasn't ready to meet, but I'm excited to see her around. :) We also had our first district meeting as a district. Our new district leader is Elder Clair from Utah. Seems like a good Elder. We had fun setting goals and making plans! We are just ready for the new transfer! :) My goal is to show my love more, definitely don't do that enough, I feel like none of us do. And if we do we need to have more love! But we stopped by one of our favorite families who we've been working with to come to church and Sister Purcell told them it was my birthday the next day and they sang me a song and gave me a cupcake in a jar! It was the cutest thing EVER!!! And what was even better is that they've been keeping commitments. I love when people keep commitments. :)<br />
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And for all of you who were unaware, THURSDAY WAS MY BIRTHDAY!! Yes I have the best birthday ever, Cinco De Mayo!!! And I turned the big 2-0. And I discovered that when I put my mouth in an "o" shape and hold my right hand up in a peace sign, it can be the number 20!!! You know exactly what I'll be doing for the rest of the year? Exactly that. It was so weird, so many people asked me how old I was that day, not even knowing it was my birthday, and it was weird to say 20. BUT THANK YOU FOR THE BIRTHDAY PACKAGES AND LETTERS!!!!!! They were much appreciated. :)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sister Purcell and I especially had fun with the confetti.</span></div>
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But I am the luckiest Sister missionary ever, it rocks. I love you ALL!!! And on the plus side we were able to finish weekly planning! WOOHOO!! Milagros! Rose cancelled, frustrating but we did get to see her on Sunday after I skyped. It was weird to go from such a high and then to see someone at such a low. Very humbling and the spirit was definitely strong. She will be baptized! I have faith. :) But we did finally get to teach some less active families we've been trying for a while so that's AWESOME!!! And it's always a plus when you get to show Hallelujah, the video. on the street and someone actually wants to watch. Not interested, but it was still the best birthday gift ever! And it's even more of a win that before you go to bed you get sang the best rendition of Happy Birthday from the Schmitts! Love those two! They are so sweet. :) And the birthday month continues. ;)<br />
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Then Friday we went to Missionary Leadership Council. What an overload. lots of things to do, so many things to improve on, so little time. But thankfully the atonement is real! :) But thankfully the day was made better when we were able to meet with one of our favorite members, Sister Moreau, to teach Gail. What a sweetheart. As Gail opened the door she went, "Hello Family!" Super cute! And I asked her straight out, if the Book of Mormon is true, she said YES!!!! YAYYYYY!!! SND SHE CAME TO CHURCH!!!! I have so much faith that Gail will be baptized on May 28th! We can fight Satan! God is good and way more powerful! Then we got to teach our 9 year old Junior, we also taught him yesterday too! AND HE WENT TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY!!!!! WOOOHOOO!!! I love hearing little kids pray, they are always so sincere. Every time Junior always prays that he will be baptized. And yesterday he told me that he had a dream he was baptized by Jesus Christ. This kid is cool. LOVE HIM!!! Then we went over to Doug and Julie's which is one of my favorite places ever! And they even had birthday cake! To celebrate Doug and my birthdays. Love them! AND HE CAME TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY TOO!!!! WOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!! :):):):)<br />
And then we had our last lesson with Stacey before her baptism. SO TENDER!!!! OH I LOVE HER SO MUCH!!!! And I can't believe she was baptized this past week, it went by solo fast! Saturday, was the best day. THE DAY THAT STACEY GOT BAPTIZED!!!<br />
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Such a good service and the cool part was because Stacey has psoriatic arthritis, she needed two people to baptize her. So she asked a man from the ward and then she asked PRESIDENT SCHMITT!!!! So President Schmitt got to be apart of the ordinance. Super cool. The woman that introduced Stacey to the gospel, Suzanne Hoffman, drove all the way from Arizona to speak at her baptism. And she brought these cute decorations for STACEY'S baptism. The food table looked so good! And not just because there were cupcakes and brownies. ;) But Sister Purcell performed "Blessed Be His Name" in the middle and I had the pleasure of accompanying her. Boom. Instant spirit. Good stuff. And we got to walk Stacey back to the font, really cool. She rocks !!! Even though it was slightly stressful to prepare and I might of accidentally stepped in the font with my sock and shoe still on, good times and laughs were had. Especially now looking back.:) We did an inspired power hour where we found someone who was looking for a church and a former investigator. Hopefully news to follow. Then we skyped Sister Purcell's fan bam since they are way ahead, such cool people. They been sang happy birthday to me with their strong Australian accents! I love them! :) AND THEN we were contacting potentials and their was this house that was a blasting Mexican music. I felt prompted to go knock on the door, we did. AND WE FOUND A YSA INVESTIGATOR!!!!!!! MILAGROS!!!<br />
YSA has been struggling as a whole and we've been struggling to add. So it was awesome. His name is Daniel, he sells insurance, I want connection between him and Sister Purcell. We are excited to go back!<br />
AND HAPPY LATE MOTHER'S DAY!! Definitely a powerful one, especially in the branch. I was playing piano for a little bit for the YSA Sacrament Meeting and it was a hard day for Eddie. Eddie lost his mom a couple of years back so just seeing him cry made me cry. He's such a strong amazing guy. And speaking of Eddie.... We met with him yesterday and he had news for us... HE WANTS TO GO ON A MISSION!!!!! Coolest moment of my mission!!!! Ah! It was awesome. :) But also a plus we got roses and cookies in both sacrament meetings, yay for being a female and 18 years or older! ;) But happy late moms day, I love you with all my heart Moma!<br />
AND ALSO STACEY WAS CONFIRMED!!! An awesome confirmation, one filled with the spirit. And she even stayed all three hours. What a champ! Rose came to church too which was awesome! :)<br />
And Monday. The best day because I'm rebooted from partaking of the sacrament. And we definitely were because right as we stepped out of the apartment we taught the restoration. So cool!<br />
We taught this couple and we almost added them but they said they were busy and would call us. SO CLOSE!!! But at least they are one step closer. :)<br />
We taught a less active who is just not ready to keep commitments, so sad. We power houred it up and had a meeting with the Elders to figure out what they wanted us to train at zone meeting. We are training on having the purpose written on our hearts. I'd like to think mine is but I know preparing for this training will only engraven it deeper! :)<br />
Then we had dinner with the cute Sister Whitlock. :) Love her! I LOVE HER SOO MUCH!! I LOVE THESE PEOPLE SO MUCH!!! I LOVE SANTEE SOOO MUCH!!!!<br />
But I especially love this work so much, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and especially all of you. You all mean everything to me and I hope you know that. :)<br />
I'm cheering for you!<br />
Love,<br />
Sister Whitcomb<br />
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<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-73851887849999211532016-05-03T18:20:00.000-07:002016-05-21T18:23:00.995-07:00Santee is the Promised Land<span style="font-size: large;">Helloooooo family!!!!!!</span><br />
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It's another great week and also the first week of the transfer.<br />
I know you're all dying to know where I am and who I'm with. I'M STILL IN SANTEE WITH THE COOLEST AUSTRALIAN EVER!!!!! For some reason, one we hope to find out soon, Sister Purcell and I are to stay together still! Which I am so grateful for!<br />
The way they do transfers now is they send an email, so we were in the car going to visit someone as I was reading it. So it was dead silent. And then I SCREAMED!!!!! I am soooo excited and soooooo grateful! I was so nervous I was leaving! But I love these wards, the people, my investigators, so I am so grateful the Lord is allowing me to stay for another six weeks! :) It'll be the longest I've ever been in an area! Yay!<br />
But anyway. Back to the Milagros. So Tuesday night, we met with Stacey. STACEY IS GETTING BAPTIZED THIS SATURDAY!!!! That is the best birthday gift ever. :)<br />
(that's right; turning the big 2-0 this week!!!)<br />
She's so awesome, even though she has a lot of pain, she has a huge smile on her face! She is willing to live everything even before we tell her, she goes above and beyond. Friday she passed her interview and then on Sunday they announced it in church! :) YAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!<br />
She's just the coolest.<br />
And then last night we had a Family Home Evening with her and another family in the ward, the McCullochs. They rock! She's being so well fellowshipped and she just loves everyone she meets! Meant to be!<br />
Then we went out with the YSA Relief Society president for visits. Working with members is so important, it can be a struggle, but vital. Imagine the difference between 80,000 missionaries and 15 million. Huge. We all need to be working together! So work with your missionaries and make sure they work with you! It's the most important work you can be a part of!<br />
Wednesday. We met with one of the YSA recent converts, Jake. I forgot to mention that last week, Sunday, he was asked to bear his testimony. I was so impressed! It was so eloquent and well thought out and definitely directed by the spirit! The gospel brought huge changes in Jake's life! It's amazing! We also spent time near our blessed corner, where we have been setting up the institute booth. We have been able to bear our testimony and give a lot of material away to people who say they will read it and they seem genuine. It's just the typical YSA problem. Commitment, they aren't willing to give it. That is definitely necessary for repentance so hopefully all of them will be able to achieve that someday! BUT when we were walking out we did find a girl, Natasha! She said she would be willing to hear our message!! WOOHOOO!!! Just have to follow up. :)<br />
We are really just trying to find find find. We have four investigators and they all have baptismal dates. So hopefully all of them will become members soon! The time is far spent. And I promised the Lord I would help his children, so if I'm even the only one doing it, I will. It's that important. But I'm grateful I'm not the only one doing it! :)<br />
Thursday. WAS SOOO COOOLLLLLLL!!<br />
Vanessa went to the temple. :) And remember how I said Vanessa was going crazy with family history? Well she brought eight names to the temple! Four female, four male! It was awesome!<br />
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And it was funny because one of the YSA from my old area, Black Mountain was there and he told us he was engaged!!!! Good on you Devin Dahlberg! :) But to say the least, the Temple was awesome, it always is! And Sister Leavitt drove us there, so nice, man she's a crack-up! We love her. :)<br />
Friday. Being a missionary is quite awkward. But it's the best! We were teaching this YSA who hasn't been to church in a while and all of a sudden he says to me, "You have blue eyes." And all I could say was "Yes, I do," and tried to continue teaching.<br />
And then he says "You have brown hair, too."<br />
And once again I say "Yes, I do."<br />
Sister Purcell was dying! Ah man, missionary work, it's the best.<br />
We also did some service in the jungle! This time it looked like we made a little bit of a difference! Sweet! Even though I got stabbed by a cactus. Man, I wouldn't recommend it.<br />
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We also had our last district meeting before people got transferred. Tears all around. The lesson was on the atonement and our district leader had us sit in the chapel and think about the last time we repented and how we can improve on using the atonement. Man, it was so good. Such power, so much revelation!<br />
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We also met with Gail! Had a serious lesson about the sabbath day. Boom. Spirit. It was awesome! AND GUESS WHAT??? SHE ACTUALLY CAME TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY!!!!! Wooohoooooooooo!!! It was awesome, she came to all three hours and when she was introducing herself in Relief Society she said "Hello, my name is Gail, I've been meeting with the sisters once a week to prepare for my baptism."<br />
YESSSSS.<br />
It was awesome, super awesome!! :)<br />
But back to Friday, we also met with Julie who continues to impress me with her desire to attend seminary and surrounding herself with people who will help her keep her standards! Love her!<br />
Then Saturday.<br />
It's always a special day! When Sister Purcell got emergency transferred out a couple of months ago she went to Black Mountain, which was actually her first area! And she was teaching this boy named Matthew and this past Saturday he got baptized! And he asked Sister Purcell to speak, so we got to go! It was weird and awesome to be back in Black Mountain but it was even cooler to see Black Mountain welcome one of their brothers home.<br />
There were a lot of nonmembers there so it was awesome to talk to them! Some of them planned on going to the Mormon Battalion! :)<br />
Also on Saturday there was a huge Just Serve community event where many of the people in Santee came to clear trails and pick up this little area which was right behind a WalMart. Weird things were found in those bushes. The craziest thing I hear was one of the sisters in our ward found a prosthetic leg! Crazy! But it was awesome! We made friends with this little boy from a Catholic Church and he just followed us around the whole time! He called me Sister Zero because he said I was a hero and he called Sister Purcell Sister Two, Because second is the best! :) It was fun and it was fun to talk to that little boy about what we do as missionaries! A lot of churches there and it was good to interact with them! :)<br />
And Sunday. Like I already said, the most exciting news was that Gail and Stacey came to church!!!!! WOOOHOOO!!! :) I also loved it because it was fast and testimony meeting and I was in the YSA Sacrament meeting this Sunday and I got the opportunity to bear my testimony! I'm just proud to be a member of this church. And it was awesome because Eddie and Anthony, two recent converts, got up to share their testimonies too! :) Great times!<br />
Then Sister Purcell and I were asked to attend this special meeting with a couple sets of missionaries and our ward mission leaders. It ended up being a lot about how we are trying to work with our members. Our mission just recently came out with a faith card, which has a picture of Christ in the front with a quote from President Monson that says, "He will assist in our labors if we will act in faith to fulfill his work." And then on the back it says who, what and when. To help people identify who they can help, what they can do and when they can do it by. Then with the when we try to follow up and see how it went. It's been pretty cool but definitely could be used better. So the meeting was about having like a district 3.0. They picked Sister Purcell and I, and four other elders to be recorded at dinner using the faith cards, so missionaries can see how it should be used, what proper follow up should be used, what proper follow up should be had. If you've ever heard of "The District," it's like that, but just with member missionary work. Why they picked us, I have no idea. But it should be fun! More details to come. :)<br />
We met with members as well to help prepare for a lesson with an investigator to make it the most spiritual environment it can be. It was awesome! I'm excited for the lesson with Rose!<br />
And now Monday. So transfers happened, craziness. Then we met with Anthony to talk about his new member lessons and getting him to the Temple. And we had ice cream with him. And then we had ice cream at dinner, and then ice cream at FHE. Ice cream overload yesterday! But it was awesome. We also had a lesson with Eddie where we gave him the lesson plans and he taught us, it was awesome! He did really well and he even prepared by reading from Preach My Gospel. He's cool!<br />
We did the booth, gave away a copy of the Book of Mormon so that was awesome!<br />
I love giving people Copies of the Book of Mormon because I love telling them it's the greatest gift I could give anyone. I love testifying of that book, because I know it's true and I know it can help anyone and everyone.<br />
We also met with Vanessa, talked about tithing, she's awesome, I'm excited to see what her calling will be! And she also brought her niece to church n Sunday! So cool! She's an awesome missionary! Missionary work is so important. It's the most important work we could be doing. Or at least I could be doing. I hope all of you can experience it in some aspect and always strive for it, even if you have already done some, there's never too much missionary work! I love you all and I especially love all the mothers out there who have impacted me! Especially you Mi Madre! I love you mucho, and I'm grateful for you! You do so much and I truly do see it and appreciate it! I can't wait to Skype you on Sunday! :)<br />
Love,<br />
Sister WhitcombSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-695250583940823702016-04-26T18:22:00.000-07:002016-05-20T08:03:19.939-07:00Patience, Positivity, PersistenceHappy days!<br />
Oh what joy fills my heart. And thanks Dad for the video of Kayla opening her mission call! How crazy is that? I'm so proud of her and it definitely brought tears to my eyes! :)<br />
But I love SanDiego, it also brings tears to my eyes.<br />
Soooo Tuesday evening, we saw the amazing STACEY!!!! She's the coolest purple haired friend/investigator I've ever known! So prepared, even though she's in a lot of pain she's the happiest person I know! Super willing to live all the commandments and on Sunday I got to sit next to her. And guess what, she stayed all three hours!!!!! WOOOOHOOOO!!!<br />
She usually just stays the first hour because it's usually too painful but she was so persistent. So she stayed, and even though some members gave a tight hug, too tight for her, she had a smile on her face the whole time! And man, it was a spiritual Sunday. Perfect for her!<br />
Then I stayed in Santee on Wednesday on an exchange with Sister Chang! (pronounced Jong)<br />
She's the cutest, she is from Taiwan and was serving there for three months till her VISA came and then she went to the MTC and it's her first transfer here!<br />
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She's with Sister Vernier, those two are awesome! It was another BOOM BOOM BOOM day!<br />
It was the first day we were trying the booth. So we've been working with the institute director, there's an institute building right in our church parking lot, and it's right across from Grossmont college. Tons of traffic flows through here, and I'm sure as most of you know from previous emails, they are mostly nonmembers. We've even added a couple of investigators through it!<br />
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So we have set up the booth to do our power hour and have seen cool miracles! Sent a couple of referrals, got a couple peoples' numbers to learn more and gave away a few copies of the Book of Mormon!<br />
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It's the most fun I've had finding on a mission, and it's been so fun because Eddie has been doing it with us! He's the coolest; great guy. He just walks up to people, tells them what we are doing and why we are here and then asks if they want to meet with us. Coolest guy ever.<br />
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We've done it three times thus far, it won't last too long because the semester is almost over and summer is coming BUT we will use it while we can!<br />
Sister Chang and I also did service for our investigator Jeannie. We planted flowers for her. We found out she's moving. :( But we talked to her a little bit about the church. Unfortunately we didn't get to sit down with her. But she's still super awesome and sweet. Then we ran off to a lesson for Vanessa! I've never seen someone get so into family history so fast. She puts me to shame. She probably puts most people I know to shame. (Except you Mim, of course.) She's put in generations and generations with pictures and pictures! She said she's become addicted. :) I love her! She is bringing four male and four female names to the temple this Thursday!!!!!! We get to go with her!!!!! I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!! :)<br />
And also we just met with her again yesterday and her little boy Sebastian sat in! He was participating and we gave him a children's Book of Mormon and Vanessa said they would read it together! YAYAYAYYYYYY!!<br />
Also we invited Vanessa's brother to church. He said he's been thinking about it for a while and that he will! YAYYYYY!!!<br />
But anyway, back to Wednesday. :)<br />
We attended an institute class in hopes that people from the booth we invited would show up and a former investigator Julio showed up! WOOT WOOT!!! I can't wait for next week!<br />
Now Thursday. We again were booting it at the institute! It was quite fun! Lots of seeds planted. Everything is still in the process of blooming but I will for sure let you know when it happens! So we were supposed to meet with our investigator Tina, but she cancelled. So her sister Debbie, a former investigator came instead! It was a beautiful day so we had the lesson at a park.<br />
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<b>Debbie in the park</b></div>
I love God's creations, especially the ones that provide nice shade. :)<br />
It was cool to hear Debbie is attending church in the MCRD (Marine Corps Recruits). And yes, it is LDS. She's not quite ready to meet frequently with us but we can see the Lord is preparing her!<br />
Then we met with a recent convert, DJ, he has neon green hair and is proud of it. Great guy, he moved from El Cajon area and during the lesson he had questions about dating. I totally gave that one to Sister Purcell. Take the reins! ;)<br />
Then we had one of our favorite dinner appointments with the Whitlocks. I love them! Also get nuggets of knowledge from them. And they love doing missionary work, that's all we talk about so it's awesome!<br />
We then met a less active YSA, so hard and so sad. But never anything to give up on. God loves them and so do we.<br />
Friday, our district took on the jungle. Last week we street contacted someone named Dalina, she wants to come back to church. And she and her siblings that she lives with are disabled and so their yard hasn't been taken care of in many moons. So our district went over to help. So imagine these little plants that are supposed to stay very little, like cactus or aloe vera plant type things. They made me feel like ants, they were so big! I have no idea how that worked but we worked there for a couple of hours and it looked like we did nothing. Oh boy. Here we go! :)<br />
We met with Jake Jake, YSA recent convert. Great guy. He makes me chuckle.<br />
Then we met with Gail! Gail has not come to church yet so we really cracked down on that. So we did and it went really well. Did she come to church? Almost. But during the lesson Gail really opened up to us about her fears for baptism, and we were able to resolve them through the spirit. Can't do anything without the spirit. Then at the end we had her pray for a baptismal date, when she should be baptized. And she said she felt like May 28th. THAT'S WHAT I FELT TOO DURING THE PRAYER. The spirit rocks. She deserves the world, she just needs to see that so she will do some thing to get here.<br />
We also met with Doug and Julie. My FAVORITE PEOPLE EVER! Doug had just gotten back from a funeral in Hawaii for a loved one. It was cool to hear him talk about the temple and how he felt at peace and he let go of burdens. I'm glad Julie heard it too. Julie just rocks. I love her a lot.<br />
Then that night we were walking out of the church from a no-show appointment and there were these two guys walking back from class. One of them we had talked to at the booth earlier and gave him a Book of Mormon. He was reading it! He couldn't set up a time to meet with us but I have high hopes for him!<br />
Saturday we met with Stacey again. She calls us "The Lovelies." I always feel very lovely in her home and it still smells like Christmas! :) We added a former investigator! Junior Ragland! A nine year old part member family! They just randomly reached out to us and the Mom and Junior met us at the church and Junior remembered a lot of what we taught last even though it was a while ago. He wants to be baptized! We taught the Plan of Salvation and Junior was really involved; very mature nine year old. He wants to be baptized on June 4th!!!! WOOT WOOT!!! Santee is just AWESOME!!! Now we just have to work really hard to make all these baptisms happen!<br />
Sunday, definitely not a dry eye Sunday. Sacrament meeting was especially sacred for me as I reflected on my time here in Santee. I just want it to go on forever. I've never cried over an area, Santee must have something special. And I know it's the people. I love them all!<br />
Also, not only did Stacey come to church, but a former investigator, who I have never taught, Rose Acebedo walked into church with members of our ward! Before Relief Society she tapped on Sister Purcell's shoulder and said "Um, excuse me Sister, I need to finish my lessons with you so I can get baptized?" So sweet. So we set up a time right after church to have Rose be taught in the Thornburg home. We had no idea how it would go, we heard a couple of things about Rose but besides that knew nothing about her. She announced to the whole Relief Society that she wanted to get baptized so we knew setting her with a date might be what the spirit wanted us to do. We said a very sincere prayer before that lesson. Walked in, it went great. We really asked inspired questions to be able to get to know her and hear her testimony. She loves the church. She's getting baptized on May 21st. WOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!! The Lord is truly blessing us! :)<br />
Patience, Positivity, Persistence. My motto. :)<br />
Monday, always a good day. Especially because it was my favorite Ginger Sister Missionary's birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISTER BENTLEY ARBON!!!!! You're the coolest. And we had a cool day in your honor!<br />
President Schmitt had asked Sister Purcell and I to give training at a new missionary meeting. We talked about setting goals and purposeful planning. We just turned to the scriptures. If you want to see a man who can set goals and make plans? 1 Nephi 3-4. Nephi's the man. He's an awesome goal setter and plan maker! As well as Christ, Jacob 5. Boom. I love the scriptures!! And giving training makes me a better missionary so I'm grateful.<br />
We also attended another institute class because Brother Price, the director, told us someone had walked into the institute asking for a parking pass and he told him he would have to take a class. So he signed up. His name is Max. We showed up to see if Max would show up and he did! And he brought a friend, Natalie!<br />
Brother Price is so good and during the class he had us split up and discuss something so he put the two missionaries with the two nonmembers. Pretty cool. I was with Max discussing scripture and Sister Purcell was with Natalie. Afterwards Sister Purcell told me Natalie wants to come to church! All because of beatitudes! Sweet.<br />
We then had the senior missionary luncheon, always a treat. And a nonmember came! Referral for the San Diego elders! We taught Eddie, a good guy. Progressing and growing in the gospel so well and is the best branch missionary EVER! And that night our back up plans ran out so we prayed where to go. Prompted to go to YSA FHE and we ended up talking to a nonmember and Stephanie, our investigator who we passed off to Alpine was there and we got to talk there too. The spirit cares and if you ask he will tell. It's just up to us to decide, and I'm glad I choose the right. My decisions determine my destiny.<br />
I LOVE YOU ALL SOOO MUCH!<br />
Transfers are next week, who knows what will happen! I just love Santee and I love Sister Purcell!<br />
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Love,<br />
Sister Whitcomb<br />
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<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-30652003661153251242016-04-19T17:59:00.000-07:002016-05-06T18:32:52.184-07:00Celestial Navigation<span style="font-size: x-large;">Ahoy!</span><br />
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We went onto the USS Midway today!!!!!! Thanks to our wonderful ward mission leader, Brother Larson. He's the best!!<br />
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I wore my NCIS shirt by accident but I got so many comments on it as I was walking through the ship. It's like they all thought I was police for the Navy or something? ;) It was a huge ship, and they gave you headphones to listen to cool audio. It was awesome.<br />
We were able to go with a YSA who just got off her mission from the Colombus Ohio mission! :) So fun!<br />
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It was really fun, a cool Navy Aircraft Carrier ship that has been docked and is now a museum!<br />
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On the ship they use something called Celestial Navigation, and they can only use it if it's not cloudy... Make your own fun metaphor. :)<br />
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<b>Keeping the tour missionary-appropriate</b></div>
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Tuesday we met with Eddie. Great bloke. AND THEN we found out he was asked to speak at the MISSION PRESIDENT'S DEVOTIONAL THAT SUNDAY!!! So this past one. I GOT SOOO EXCITED!!! Those devotionals ROCK, the spirit is so strong and I love being a part of the music. I did get to accompany the choir and Sister Carlson sang with an Elder. The classic, Come Thou Font. Good stuff. The spirit was so strong, so many sacrificed and humbling experiences in those recent converts' testimonies. And one of my favorite parts was when Eddie goes "I DARE you if you haven't already, to be baptized and take another lesson with the missionaries."<br />
Good on ya Eddie! :) Such a great missionary. :)<br />
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<b>Eddie the superstar</b></div>
And our investigator Stacey was also there! I love her! She sat right up front, she was beaming. She was also crying, but who wasn't, because the spirit was so strong! Even the Schmitts' two youngest kids sang! So cute! Great Devotional, right in Santee!<br />
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<b>At the devotional with Vanessa, Stacey and the cute Sister Littlefield</b></div>
Then on Wednesday we went on exchanges with the Chula Vista Sisters. I joined Sister Hendrix in Chula Vista and Sister Purcell stayed with Sister Bossell in Santee.<br />
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<b>Exchanges</b></div>
Chulas awesome, nice and ghetto at the same time. We met with a couple of their investigators, went out with their Relief Society President and invited a ton of people to the devotional! Back in Santee....... THE SISTERS ROCKED IT!!!! Remember when we had power hour at the Whitlocks? And remember when they referred us to their neighbors for service? Well, they went to service and the woman, Jeannie, saw how hard they were working and let them in. She sat them down and from her side table pulled out a copy of The Book of Mormon and said "Okay. Tell me about this book."<br />
SO COOL!!! She is now an investigator!! WOOT WOOT!!!!!!!<br />
Member work is real! And it is awesome! And also the sisters met with the Institute director at Grossmont. We are going to set up a booth and get the flow of traffic from Grossmont College to the institute parking lot. A lot of nonmembers! Should be GREAT!!<br />
Thursday we finished weekly planning! WOOHOOO!!!!!<br />
We also did service for a surprise less active and met her nonmember daughter. Sweet. We are going back to see them next week. Stay tuned for Grace and Kim. :)<br />
Friday was a BOOM BOOM BOOM appointment day! We met with Jake and helped him have a desire to have a family! Coolest change ever. We were able to do district service at the Raabs home, a member. Tried to make a difference; service is always so good. And we've been running into a lot of opportunities! :)<br />
We taught Gail the law of chastity. Depressing lesson. All I can say is that I'm so grateful for my life and for the things I've been raised with. I'm not always sure why Heavenly Father has blessed me but I am sure grateful and I'm going to do whatever I can to help Gail. She had to get rid of her furniture so she's trying to scramble for something else. We were driving the next day and what do we see on the side of the road? A coffee table with a free sign on it. Win! Thanks Heavenly Father for blessing my friend Gail! She's a pal. :)<br />Then we did a pass off lesson for Stephanie. Since she's getting married and she moved to Alpine. Off to the Alpine Elders she went, they will take good care of her. :)<br />
Then we taught Doug. He rocks! Julie was unfortunately sick but we did get to see her on Sunday! AND GUESS WHAT???? SHE WAS MADE THE FIRST COUNSELOR IN THE LAUREL PRESIDENCY!!!!<br />Yeeeeeaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :)<br />
Love that girl. But we were able to teach Doug in a member's home which automatically has the spirit. It rocks. Host a lesson! Do it for the Lord! :)<br />
Then we taught some little ones and we were able to help focus them with the piano and chocolate chip cookies. Works wonders.<br />
:)<br />
Saturday we had our first outing at Phils BBQ. Good place, you should check it out someday. :)<br />
We also met up with Eddie to help him formulate his talk and help him practice for the devotional. We had him even go up to the mic and practice what he was going to have to say. The spirit was missing as he was trying to practice and he didn't really know what to say or do. So I had a prompting to go up there and pretend to be a recent convert and bear my testimony. Who did I choose to be? My Dad. It was really cool, trying to see it from my dad's perspective and trying to imagine what his testimony started out to be.<br />
Dad, you have a lot of faith and you always have the spirit. Thanks for your great example. Love you.<br />
Eddie then nailed it. Thanks spirit.<br />
We also met with a part member family, always nice to know the ward better and bring the spirit to their home. We also taught Stacey and we taught her with the woman who lives in Arizona who originally gave the referral! So cool! :) It was awesome, Stacey accepted everything we taught and is just pumped about the gospel! Who wouldn't be? :)<br />
And she also gave us cake and said we were adopted. Done deal, their was cake. ;)<br />
And one of our wonderful members, Sister Leavitt, was able to give Gail a ride to witness a baptism for the Lakeside Elders. Baptisms are always awesome and I'm glad Gail got to see one! :)<br />
Sunday was a spiritual blast, with two wards, a mission presidents devotional, and just missionary work in general. How can you go wrong? You can't. And Stacey came to church! :)<br />So not only did we do all that, we set up a time to do more service for a woman who has had ties in the past with the church. God is good and putting prepared people in our paths. All we have had to do was open our mouths and talk to them about the gospel. I love it.<br />
Monday, sunny day, hot day. High temp of 104 degrees! Woof. But it was good, we were able to do some service for an older woman in the ward who can't come to church so it was awesome getting to know her! :)<br />I love service, everyone needs to do it everyday in some shape or form!<br />
Only right way to do your day.<br />
We were able to have FHE at our ward mission leader's home. Gail was supposed to come but didn't. Ah Gail. But it was an awesome lesson and an awesome time to help and get to know the Larsons. Then we went to YSA FHE quickly and tried to promote institute so more YSA will come and hopefully eventually bring their friends! Got some people to help us out with the table we are trying out on. Good eventful night of using our members and talking to their friends they brought! It's awesome.<br />
This life is so great and I'm so happy. I hope all of you are too!<br />
Love you all!<br />
You all rock!<br />
Love,<br />
Sister WhitcombSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-84872517721129449242016-04-12T19:55:00.000-07:002016-04-30T19:56:04.002-07:00Sugar is sweet but SanDiego is SWEETER!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>The only time to practice, at dinner.</b></div>
Oh what a BEAUTIFUL week!<br />
Oh my goodness, I now get to experience Spring time in San Diego!<br />
IT'S THE BEST!! Ah. I'm the luckiest person alive. I got the golden mission, golden mission president, golden companions, golden areas, golden members, golden investigators, the list could go on and on! I literally am grateful for every minute of my mission! It rocks.<br />
And so does Santee!! SANTEES ON FIRE!!!! We added three new investigators last week!!! Wooohoooooooooo!!!! But anyways, here we go:<br />
Tuesday evening. LITERALLY MADE MY MISSION. Stacey English is the golden referral I've been waiting for my WHOLE mission! (Which will be 11 months tomorrow, AHHHH!!!)<br />
I might have mentioned it in the last email but the zone leaders in another area gave us a referral from a member in their ward. Then that same day Sister Schmitt called us and said she had a referral for us, same person! She asked if she could come, so of course we said yes! (Can't say no to the mission president, and especially not the mission president's wife!) We also invited one of our members to go, she's the sweetest, Sister Carlson. (Not my MTC companion;)) And Stacey also wanted a priesthood blessing, so we tried to get one, but then Stacey called and said someone named Alex Morgan was coming to give her one and she said he was a member, sweet.<br />
So we go there, knock on the door, and we hear a feeble voice telling us to come in. We open the door, there is a small woman just sitting on the couch covered in a blanket, crying. Sobbing. We come in and sit down. She tells us she is in so much physical pain, she had chronic arthritis. And she just wants help, physically and spiritually.<br />
As we were getting to know her, superwoman, I mean Sister Schmitt, busts through the door with soup and cornbread and some pastry. She just busts in with the spirit and does her doctor evaluation, physically and spiritually, and it turns out our Alex Morgan was actually Sister Schmitt, aka Alexis Schmitt. Funny Moment! Then we asked her what she was expecting from our visits and she goes, "Well to become a member of your church."<br />
ALRIGHT!!!! She is sooo prepared, she dated a member, she works with members, and her boss is a bishop! SO COOL! Super spiritual Restoration, best one I've ever had on my mission!<br />
And when we gave her a copy of The Book of Mormon she was so excited! It was sweet! And she told us later on that the first night she fell asleep holding The Book of Mormon. She's so cute! And when Sister Purcell invited her to be baptized she said yes mid sentence! May 7th!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
SHE'S GOING TO BE BAPTIZED!!!! Ah that's going to be the best birthday ever!<br />
That's right, I'm turning the big 2-0 on May 5th!!! WOOT WOOT!!But everyone should put Stacey's baptism on their calendar because she is literally the COOLEST!!!!<br />
And then at the end of the lesson Brother Carlson and Jacobson, our two counselors in the bishopric were able to give her a blessing. And let me just tell you, we went to go see her again on Friday, woof. I've never seen someone physically change so much!<br />
When we went back, her hair and make up were done, she was smiling, she opened the door before we knocked, she was walking around! Don't get me wrong, she was still in a lot of pain, but something just changed in her. Her attitude and her spirit was different. And she told us she knew it was from the blessing and from The Book of Mormon. She brought the huge large print that we gave her to her doctor's appointment and she said three or four people stopped her and asked her if she was joining, she always responded yes and then they said you will never meet a nicer group of people! OH!<br />
And then by the end she would say "Well you should join then!"<br />
OH SHE ROCKS! She makes me laugh, smile and cry! She's the best! She wasn't sure if she was going to be physically able to come to church on Sunday, but we got her a ride AND SHE CAME TO CHURCH!!! Ohhhhhh my heart was happy as she walked through the doors!! She looked so cute and she had a big smile on her face, even though she told us later she had never been in so much pain. She has so much faith and such a strong determination! She got to meet the Bishop and the Relief Society President!<br />
And then we saw her again on Monday and she basically remembered everyone's' names and what Relief Society was! (She could only stay for the sacrament) She's just the coolest and then when we met with her again yesterday she had so many questions and she said she LOVED IT! She loved all the children, she loved the music, the testimonies, everyone she met, and she loved that she felt safe! Oh she's so cool. And I'll never stop saying that! She asked why there weren't that many youth even though there is a big high school on our boundaries. I told her it was because they weren't members and she then says "Well it's because I haven't been there yet to talk with them!!" AHHHHH, I love her. Also she said she was in the DMV and she was getting frustrated with someone and she then thought how her sisters would react adn how they would be loving. SHE SAYS WE ARE HER SISTERS!!! YAYYYYYYYYY!! :)<br />
Needless to say Stacey is one of my favorite people and definitely made my mission! I can't wait for May 7th!<br />
PS Her house smells like Christmas. It's always Christmas at Stacey's house! :)<br />
Thankfully we did get our car back. On Wednesday we were able to go on an exchange with the Hillsdale/Jamul Sisters! THAT'S MY MISSION HOME! My first area--love that place!<br />
I had the fortunate opportunity to go on an exchange with Sister Stussi! (Sister Wardinsky's trainee!!:))<br />
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<b>Exchanges with Sister Stussi and Sister Guest</b></div>
She's a Temple Square sister and she's from Switzerland. She's awesome! We were able to meet with Eddie who is the coolest and best missionary ever! We asked him at the end who he might know who needs the gospel. He started looking through his contacts list and said he had a couple of names he needed to pray about! OH! He rocks and he also rocked our coordination meeting with our Branch Mission leader! We have been really trying to find YSA and we will soon go on Grossmont campus with a great display! Basically spear-headed by Eddie! He's the greatest!<br />
We also met with Vanessa who I love sooo much! She's doing awesome, she's doing family history and she got permission from her parents to bring her grandparents' names to the temple!!!<br />
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<b>Vanessa and her sons</b></div>
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YAYYYY!!! And she also was able to bring her Mom to the Spanish Branch on Sunday! DOUBLE YAYYYYYY!!! Ah, I love her. She's doing awesome and is already so involved! Bringing sisters in need dinner, wanting to go support people at the Temple, she's awesome!<br />
Much love for her!<br />
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<b>We were at exchanges today with none other than Sister Carlson!!</b></div>
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<b>Love her :)</b></div>
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Thursday: Gail. What a sweetheart. She continues to call us her angels. One of my favorite lines she told us was as we were going to work in the rain, "Now you two be careful, don't you know sugar melts in the rain!" Oh we died! It was so funny! But she's doing good. She is very sick, still. But she was able to receive a blessing! She's getting there; she's working on living some of the commandments. We've been calling her every morning to help her remember to live them. She loves it! She said that sometimes it's hard for her to get up and live, but she knows that every morning we will be calling, and she's waiting for us to call her! I love her.<br />
But she was still too sick to come to church on Sunday, that was super sad. Hard for me, we will now have to move her baptismal date. But have no fear! Gail even said she knows she's still alive on this earth to fulfill her purpose, and part of that purpose is baptism! Love her.<br />
We also weekly planned, planned for zone meeting, and we had dinner with the Whitlocks! Cutest people. And they gave us marriage advice. Classic. :)<br />
We then had power hour, prayed with some members kids and we were in the right place at the right time! We saw a woman get out of her truck, asked her if she knew of any people who needed some service we could help out. And she told us she was moving, and she actually accepted our help! We came back the next day, she said we were the only people to help her besides her sister. She's a single mom with a 14 year old boy. Myra and Isaiah.<br />
Sister Purcell came back the next day while we were on exchanges and added them!!<br />
Myra said she had called her Mormon friend and talked to her about us. Sweet. All good things, all good things!<br />
Friday: INTERVIEWS WITH PRESIDENT SCHMITT!!! He is the man. And he also took a selfie with me to send to my family.<br />
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<b>PRESIDENT SCHMITT!!!</b></div>
And he wanted me to say (and I quote) "I love these missionaries, your missionaries, and the work is good in San Diego."<br />
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<b>President Schmitt with the Sisters of Santee!</b></div>
He rocks. He helped me out with some member work. He rocks! And I sure do know that he loves and appreciates me; he tells it to me every time. And I sure do love and appreciate him! AND GUESS WHAT?!? HE TOLD US THAT ELDER JEFFREY R HOLLAND IS COMING TO OUR MISSION AT THE END OF MAY!!!<br />
Ahh, excitement can not be contained!<br />
I am for sure preparing now before Elder Holland shakes my hand and looks into my soul. Thank goodness for repentance. ;)<br />
We then went to power hour at the Whitlocks and he directed us to two of his neighbors houses, walked us over, and got us some service opportunities! Sweet! We also gave someone a Book of Mormon on their street.<br />
'Twas a good hour of power!<br />
Then we had district meeting, always good.<br />
We then met Doug and Julie. Love them, lots. Doug said he listened to General Conference at work and Julie might be starting seminary soon! Sweet!<br />Doug also told us that they say family prayer in the morning with all his kids and every time they say amen Julie always says with a loud voice, "AMEN!" She rocks! I love her!<br />
Saturday: Exchanges with Sister Starr!!!!! In Tierra Santa!!!!!!!<br />
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<b>Exchanges with Sister Starr and Sister Lao!</b></div>
Tierra Santa is full of military folks, all over! So many people to talk to! And Sister Starr rocks at it! :) She shines super bright! ;)<br />
We had an interesting moment where we street contacted these two people and they thought they would show us a scene from The Book of Mormon Musical. They thought we would like it. But we decided to talk about the actual book with them instead. They said they would pray about it too after they read it! Sweet.<br />
Sunday: Stacey and Stephanie came to church!! We met with our branch president, went into a primary class to talk about missionary work and fasted that we would be able to add a family and invite three new people to be baptized this week. Yeah! Game Day.<br />
We went to a break the fast with some of the older sisters in the Grossmont ward. One of them tried to set me up with her grandson. Ah awkward moments where you don't know how to react. Good times. We had an AWESOME power hour where I just felt prompted to knock on a lot of doors. Sister Purcell called it my spidery senses. Where I would walk by a house, then stare at it and then walk up to it. AND WE SAW A MILAGRO FROM IT! We knocked on the door, a YSA opened and was interested in hearing more and set an appointment! YAY!! And we invited him to be baptized! Taylor's cool. His appointment fell through but we will meet with him soon! :)<br />
Monday: main even was Stacy. Which I already told you about.<br />
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<b>STACEY!!!!!!!!!</b></div>
She's awesome. We also did some training at zone meeting about follow up. It's important, in all aspects of life. You all should read M. Russell Ballard's general conference talk that's called "Following up." It's awesome. Missionary work is awesome!<br />
We also found a secret less active! Gonna do some service for her on Thursday! The work is GREAT!!<br />
The field is white and is being harvested! Come join in on the fun!<br />
You can get a tan while you're at it. ;)<br />
Well, at least in sunny San Diego. :)<br />
I just really love you all.<br />
His mission has expanded my love for everyone. My heart will burst, but I'll just keep loving everybody!<br />
I'm cheering for all of you!<br />
Love,<br />
Sister Whitcomb<br />
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<b>Some members moved in and we taught them a lesson and they gave us roses!</b></div>
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<b>Aren't they beautiful?</b></div>
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<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-19872914104281822692016-04-05T15:04:00.000-07:002016-04-30T15:57:08.411-07:00my calling in lifeHELLOOOOO LOVED ONES!!!!!!!<br />
Man oh man. Where to start. I JUST LOVE WHERE I AM!!! I love being a missionary, I love the people I serve with, I love my companions, members, recent converts, leaders, investigators, people I meet on the street!!! EVERYONE! It's cool to see what a calling of a missionary can do to you. ALSO CONGRATS TO AMANDA FOR GETTING YOUR MISSION CALL TO MEXICO!!! That's so exciting and I am so proud of you and I know you will make the best missionary EVER! :)<br />
Thankfully on Tuesday we got our car back. And for PDay we also played some good American baseball.<br />
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Was I very good? No. But did I enjoy myself and especially the weather? Yes.<br />
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<b>It was also the Boston Red Sox Home Opener. Coincidence? I think not.</b></div>
We were able to drive to an appointment to see Netta. She's doing so good and we did service again with her on Friday where she baked treats for people and delivered it to them. She's a golden soul!<br />
Then on Wednesday we literally talked to EVERYONE. We've seen a lot of people. And this week for some reason I felt extra motivated to talk to everyone. So we chased some people down, even if it did mean we had to cross four lanes of traffic. Worth it.<br />
We shared the Hallelujah video a lot! It was awesome, but of course people have agency. During our studies we really focused on The Book of Mormon and how we need to center it on everything we do. EVERYTHING. And so we have been. We taught a little about it in District meeting, we've been role playing with it, and we've been street contacting with it! We gave out a lot of Books this week. So cool. One guy we were street contacting tried to walk by saying, "I'll talk to you when you can show me another book, besides the Bible, that testifies of Jesus Christ."<br />
Oh sir, it is your lucky day. So he took a copy and said he would read it. Sweet.<br />
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<b>When it rains, it pours.</b></div>
Wednesday was also the day we had our last lesson with Vanessa as an investigator!!!!! It was awesome. She's awesome and her baptism was even more awesome. EXPLOSIVE to say the least. :) More to come on that day...<br />
THEN ON THURSDAY WE SET GAIL WITH A BAPTISMAL DATE OF APRIL 30!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh it was the coolest thing ever! We brought an older member with us and we just started following up with her and her Easter and how she liked the womens' broadcast. She said she LOVED it and she was telling EVERYONE about it. She rocks. And then she goes on to say that as she is telling her friends, so many of them go "Oh Gail, you need to join that church." WHAT?!?!? SO COOOOOOLLLLLL!!! :)<br />
Ah, so we invited her there and we set a goal of April 30th. :)<br />
She's just the cutest but she's very sick. Please keep her in your prayers. We dropped off some different soups, homemade, this morning with a box of tissues and a picture of Christ. Love that lady. And when we saw her she was listening to General Conference! Oh she's so cool.<br />
We've been having great power hours, great seed planting. We weekly planned, and saw Tina and Debbie. Interesting to say the least. Debbie refuses to be baptized and Tina wants to look into it more. They are a pair. And I love them both. And then we met with a returning less active, Daniel. What a good guy with a tender heart. Good man, good man.<br />
Friday can only be described as "scoop and shimmy." Oh Netta, she's a funny one. While we were talking about doing service, we talked about her getting married in the temple. Since she wants to get married soon to her nonmember boyfriend. So she said she would read the Book of Mormon with him on the Temple grounds. How cute is that? Cute.<br />
We had a cool experience in Lakeside where we started street contacting this man and he asked if I had been baptized, and how he could be baptized. So cool. An awesome referral for the Lakeside Elders! I love how I get to be a part of peoples' journeys even in little ways like that! It's awesome. :)<br />
Before Gail got sick, we had her follow us to go to a member's home for dinner. Sister Moreau had invited her over. It was so cool! They got along very well and helped her get excited about her baptism! Oh, makes me happy! :)<br />
Then that same night we were able to have another really spiritual tender lesson with Stephanie. Daniel can testify like a boss. OH AND WE HAD OUR FIRST COORDINATION MEETING WITH EDDIE THERE!!! He's just the coolest. :) Eddie's one of my favorites! :)<br />
Woof. This weekend was the best but also the fastest! General conference. My favorites, were Elder Neil L. Andersen, Donald A Hallstrom, Mervyn B Arnold, M. Russell Ballard, Patrick Kearon and of course Jeffrey R Holland. But do you want to hear something sad? As the opening song on Sunday was happening, we had a BLACKOUT. The power totally went out all the way up to Poway! But thankfully kind members exist and one was at the stake center.<br />
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<b>General Conference with the best members ever!</b></div>
They invited us all over to catch the rest of the session. So we missed President Monson's talk and Sister Oscarson's talk. Sad day. But it's okay because technology is a blessing! I will read it soon, hopefully, and I'm sure he will be one of my favorites too!<br />
<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3; color: #660000; font-size: large;">Probably the biggest (conference) prompting I got was that my calling in life is to make a difference to the children who don't feel God's love. The strongest prompting I've ever received. And I'm excited to fulfill it. </span><br />
Sister Purcell and I also did comp inventory, she started crying. She said I was the most consecrated companion she's ever had. She's the sweetest, love her.<br />
We also finally saw John Stevenson, a recent convert in Grossmont. He's doing okay, and he knows the atonement is real.<br />
SUNDAY WAS THE BEST!!!!<br />
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<b>Waffle Bar!</b></div>
BECAUSE: conference, a member fed us a waffle bar lunch, and VANESSA GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!<br />
Ah, right after conference ended, we had her service.<br />
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<b>We LOVE Vanessa!</b></div>
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<b>And they do too!</b></div>
<br />
She is the cutest! And it was the coolest baptismal service. Sisters Pilkington and Stewart, now Lexi and Suzie were able to skype in, with permission from President. Coolest thing!<br />
Love them!<br />
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Wifi was struggling though, sorry sisters! But it was awesome.<br />
Her cousins from L.A. who introduced her to the church were there and gave stellar talks. SO many NONMEMBERS were there as well. Vanessa's parents, brother, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins. And all nonmembers! Good thing our restoration presentation was the BEST!!!<br />
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We used the TV and showed pictures of our families, a powerful little video of Christ, pictures with music and a video about The Book of Mormon. Boom. Instant spirit. :)<br />
We came to find out that Vanessa's brother went through the Mormon Batallion and accepted a Book of Mormon, and a Mormon Battalion sister has been teaching him online and he said that he had listened in on our lessons and he loves it! FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER! And I'm so excited for her family! :)<br />
That same night we handed out a ton of Books of Mormon, watched the Hallelujah video with people on the street and we even got a few people to tear up. Good night. Good night.<br />
Then Monday, we once again were left without a car. We had to bring it to the dealership this time for a cracked turbo. I promise you I don't race the car. I have no idea what happened. Sigh. The Lord has a plan! And the car had to stay overnight.<br />
Thankfully we had MLC (Missionary Leadership Council) and we got the Monks, our senior missionary couple, to drop us off and we were inspired by President Schmitt.<br />
And I always love seeing Sister Carlson.<br />
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<b>We are totally soul sisters.</b></div>
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AND COOLEST THING HAPPENED AFTER MLC!</div>
Some Elders walked up to us and said they had a referral from a member in their ward. They just got off the phone with the potential investigator, Stacy. She was in tears apparently, and said she wanted to be a member of our church. So we called her right away. She was still crying and just said how she wanted a new start, so we have an appointment with her today!!!<br />
And guess what? We learned she is the Schmitts' friend and they are the ones who introduced the gospel to her! So they are coming with us tonight!! (No pressure:))<br />
Then we used our members for rides after MLC and walked a lot. It was awesome.<br />
We talked to a lot of people, shared the Hallelujah video, saw some more tears, all good things.<br />
Then we had dinner with a part member family. It was hectic at a crazy restaurant. All we could do was talk about The Book of Mormon, commit her to read it, and tell her we will stop by sometime this week. She's cool, cute family, great potential. We are excited for her!<br />
Then we had to run because our ride was here to drop us off at our Family Home Evening with the Carlsons, a family in the Grossmont ward. Great night, great member missionaries. Inspiring.<br />
Then we met with a recent convert, DJ, who just moved into the branch. Greenest hair I've ever seen. But coolest conversion story, very spiritual man and he really wants his mom to have this. We helped him set a goal. He's cool. I love this area.<br />
And I truly love this work.<br />
I love the trials I face that make me stronger.<br />
I love the people I've met and I know I've met them before.<br />
It's the coolest.<br />
And I'm also grateful I get to be together forever with my family. I know that sentence gets said a lot but it couldn't be more true.<br />
I love it and I love all of you.<br />
Keep following the Savior's light. He and I love you!<br />
Love,<br />
Sister WhitcombSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-71277684124447280882016-03-29T10:41:00.000-07:002016-04-29T18:20:10.737-07:00Happiness in a human bodyFear Not!<br />
Tuesday is here and it's letter time! :)<br />
I hope you all had the BEST Easter ever and that it motivated you to stick by your Savior Jesus Christ for the rest of the year! I know it did for me, Sister Purcell and I were talking this morning about how we don't just want to study about Christ's life at Easter and Christmas, but we want to make it an everyday thing. And being on a mission it's easy to do that. It's after the mission I have to brace myself for. But don't worry I have plenty of time! :)<br />
Tuesday night we were able to be with Maddie!! The coolest YSA EVER!!!<br />
We love her and can't wait for her to go on a mission. :) We conquered Lakeside, even if it is sketchy in the dark! The gospel prevails!!!! :)<br />
So this week, Wednesday. We went to the food bank to enjoy some of my favorite people ever! :) And in return they gave us a TON of fresh vegtables. Good thing Sister Purcell cooks and she's good at it, we enjoyed a lot of crock pot dishes, living vicariously through the senior missionaries. ;)<br />
I've been eating healthy this week and of course it started since Sister Stew left, sorry Sis Stew. ;)<br />
Then we had a scheduled appointment with a former investigator, Debbie. She and her sister sat in the lesson. Slightly awkward when the bickering started but we were able to bring the spirit! And the spirit had us talking about baptism and we ended up teaching the Plan of Salvation! Backwards! Starting with the kingdoms. It was awesome, her sister Tina said "It just makes sense. It's like I've heard it before."<br />
Well, Tina, it's because you have. :)<br />
SO WE ADDED HER AS AN INVESTIGATOR!!!!!! It was awesome, not date yet but hopefully this week! :)<br />
They also gave us cupcakes, which may or may not have slid off the car dashboard...... Sorry Sister Purcell. ;)<br />
And hooray for 15 minute dinners in the apartment! We've been doing that a lot because we've been go go GO! It's the best. :)<br />
Then our YSA Elders Quorum President asked me to play the piano for him for Easter Sunday. It worked out because we were having a lesson with Netta anyway and she was practicing too! I love my piano skills, I truly can not say that enough! :)<br />
We also taught a 10 year old the law of chastity. Head, shoulders, knees and toes has never come in so handy! Then we were able to teach the Nelsons who we are helping come back to church, the ones who just moved in. AND BROTHER NELSON WAS AT CHURCH ON SUNDAY!!!!!! He was so excited to shake our hands, it was awesome. :)<br />
Then on Thursday we had weekly planning, classic I know. :)<br />
AND WE GOT TO MEET WITH VANESSA TO HELP HER PUT TOGETHER HER BAPTISMAL PROGRAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND SHE PASSED HER INTERVIEW ON FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
AHHHHHH SHE'S GETTING BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!! And Sis Stew and Sis Pilk are going to skype in!!! Ohhhh I'm so excited!!<br />
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<b>Sister Stewart and her sisters and us with Vanessa!</b></div>
She's so cute and she came to the General Women's broadcast and loved it and she came to church and stayed all three hours!! Oh I love her SO much! :)<br />
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<b>After the general YW broadcast we sat at a table of YW from the Bostonia Ward. We had the funniest conversation. We asked how their elders were, and they responded "NOT cute." We told them, "Don't Worry, our purpose as missionaries is to specifically NOT look cute." ;)</b></div>
We also had correlation with our YSA Branch Mission Leader, he's a crack up but also a spiritual giant. The quote from the night was, "We have to be cunning like a snake, but with our malice." Missionary work, gotta be smart and quick and loving! IT ROCKS!!!!<br />
And Sister Purcell always has me laughing with her Australian words and her personality! Fun fact: all my companions have been older than me physically and mission-wise (they've been out longer than I have).<br />
Then on Friday WAS JULIE'S BIRTHDAY!!!! She turned 16, and she had us over for a lesson! We got to have birthday cake with her too! I told her about our cake tradition, the first bite, they just laughed. :)<br />
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<b>Julie's birthday</b></div>
But it was really cool because not only was Doug and Julie there but so was her older sister who is not a member. She wasn't really engaged at the beginning of the lesson but Sister Purcell and I were praying really hard during the lesson to know how we could involve her. Let me just testify, praying works. And we definitely have a lot better relationship with her now which will hopefully help her go somewhere. But her family committed her to pray together! It was sweet and when Julie said the closing prayer she mentioned how she was grateful her sister was in the lesson and was learning what she did. OH I LOVE JULIE!!!! She's the greatest in the world!!! Such strong faith! :)<br />
We also had district meeting, good times with a new district. We met with Netta again. HOPEFULLY SHE WILL BE ABLE TO GO TO THE TEMPLE SOON!!!!!!! :) I love the temple. :)<br />
So I always title my journal entries every night, and Saturday's was "Happiness in a human body." I didn't know how else to explain it! I was just SO happy on Saturday! And funny note; for some reason I even introduced myself as Sister Pilkington.... Why you ask? I have no idea. I guess I miss her too much. :)<br />
Another fun fact: Sister Pilkington trained Sister Purcell, and Sister Chan was also companions with Sister Purcell right before i was! CRAZY!!!!!!!! Anyway, Saturday. It was BEAUTIFUL!<br />
I just love this weather, living in paradise! But it has made me a wimp, I can not lie about that! :)<br />
One cool miracle was we were trying potentials in this apartment complex and one of the families let us in! The Tufts, his Dad is a member but none of them are! He has a cute little family, wife and two little boys. We showed them the Easter message, invited them to church and they said they could text us about a return appointment. WOOHOOOOOOOO. SUPER excited.<br />
Then we got Gail, our investigator, to follow us to the church building for the General Women's broadcast!! Oh, that made me so happy because it was her first time in a church building, she met a lot of members, she felt the spirit and heard from our church leaders! SHE JUST LOVED IT!!! OHHHHHHHHHHHH<br />
AND ALSO SISTER STEWART, NOW LEXI STEWART CAME TO THE BROADCAST TOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Her family wanted to come back for their spring break so here they are! It was soo awesome to see her, I miss her a lot. When she left it made me feel like my home left, little sad but I'm so happy for her! :) And don't worry, I'm still super happy on my mission too! :) And seeing her Mom and little sisters was the best! They are so cute! And I loved talking to the actual Mama Stew, she reminded me of my Mom. :) And her little sister Addy was even playing with my hair so that was cute. :)<br />
Then Sunday. Wow. What a spiritual day! Sister Purcell and I were asked to bear our testimonies, which we did. I quoted John 15:13 which says:<br />
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.<br />
Boom. Power. Love. I love it. And I used it with the last verse of I feel my Savior's Love. I just love primary songs! They are so simple yet so powerful I'm so grateful I was raised with them! The third verse says:<br />
<br />
I feel my Savior's love<br />
And know that he will bless me<br />
I offer him my heart;<br />
My shepherd he will be.<br />
He knows I will follow him<br />
Give all my life to him<br />
I feel my Savior's love<br />
The love he freely gives me.<br />
<br />
Boom. Power. Then I had the pleasure of accompanying Netta and Blake. Netta sang, "Blessed be His Name" by Jenny Phillips. Powerful words. And then Blake sang a rendition of "I Know that My Redeemer Lives." Spirit was strong and our investigator Stephanie was there so that was a plus! And as I was sitting in primary the words of another primary song came into my head:<br />
<br />
I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,<br />
I know who I am, I know God's plan,<br />
I'll follow him in faith.<br />
I believe in the Savior Jesus Christ,<br />
I'll honor his name!<br />
I'll do what is right,<br />
I'll follow his light, his truth I will obtain!<br />
<br />
I'm so proud to be a member of this church. I just am. And we were able to have a nice Easter dinner with a nice family and drop off some Easter cards.<br />
Then Monday, oh Monday. Our car decided to be difficult and we had to take it in to Pepboys. They needed to keep it over night. For some reason I just have the worst luck with cars! I don't know why. Oh well. So we did a lot of walking, it felt good. And I was smiling all the day long. Good thing I have two legs that work and nice shoes that support my feet! (Thanks Mom :) )<br />
We also had nice senior couples and other missionaries willing to help us get to appointments on time.<br />
We did service for Sister Whitlock in her garden. Cutest woman ever!<br />
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<b>Sister Whitlock had the coolest swing ever!</b></div>
And we had the senior missionary luncheon, also best thing ever! We also taught Eddie and Jake. AND EDDIE GOT A CALLING TO BE A BRANCH MISSIONARY!!! WOOT WOOT!!!<br />
We met with him and he was just on cloud nine, he said he was going to give us 110%! And apparently when he first accepted the calling he asked the counselor "So where am I going?" How great is that? Eddie had enough faith and he loved the gospel so much that he was willing to go anywhere! What a good guy. :)<br />
Then we had power hour with a YSA Colin, always a good time. And then we walked and walked and walked and walked. Ran into some people we were definitely supposed to see, set a few return appointments and even ran into a former that disappeared off of the face of the planet Earth!<br />
TENDER MERCIES OF THE LORD!<br />
Good thing we didn't have a car that night. :)<br />
God is good.<br />
We also got to teach our 10 year old recent convert. It was a little hectic with three kids running around and trying to settle. But then I saw their dusty old piano and we decided to sing primary songs to them. Amazing how that calmed them down, we talked about the lyrics and by the time we were done they were asking for one more. It felt good to be able to bring the spirit into a hard home.<br />
One of the greatest joys that I had that day. And also it was cool, we weren't planning on going over but we decided to and apparently as we went over, one of the girls, Kaylynn had said "1,2,3, MISSIONARIES!" God is good.<br />
I love his work, I love my Savior, I love all of you and I rejoice in the fact that we all will live again and be happy! Keep on smiling, keep on loving!<br />
Love,<br />
Sister Whitcomb<br />
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At the airport last week. I miss these sisters!<br />
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Our shirts we made! Didn't get to take a picture with Sister Stewart though... SOMEDAY!<br />
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<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-86124404491722530572016-03-22T14:55:00.000-07:002016-03-28T14:56:19.172-07:00Mission (Mum) accomplished.Ah my family,<br />
It's so weird to be sooo TIRED yet sooo HAPPY!<br />
But hey, congrats to Aunt Tina and now I have another Uncle Steve! Can't get enough of those, apparently! ;) That made me so happy to see all my beautiful family at the beautiful house in Loonieburg! My heart smiled! :) And I realized that literally every time Aunt Jeannette comes in to town, I'm out of town. Hopefully I'll see her soon! LOVE MY FAMILY SOOOO MUCH!!!<br />
But it's okay because I'll be with all of you together forever! Ah, Sweet is the peace the gospel brings.<br />
BUT ANYWAY, sweet is the life of a MISSIONARY!!!!<br />
AHHH MILAGROS!!!! But I will get into that as I continue to get into our week...<br />
So Tuesday night. We met with a less active. It's very interesting how people don't like that Easter is all about Christ. But I guess it is good that they want to show more gratitude for Heavenly Father! We all need to be a little more grateful in life, right?<br />
So then we had branch visits; it was us, the Bishopric, the Senior couple, and two branch members. Lots of work to be done! THE TIME IS FAR SPENT!!!!!<br />
But we got to go with Sister Monk and try to see a less active YSA. We saw her mom, but she's part of the Grossmont Ward so it was perfect! :) We shared the Easter initiative. #HALLELUJAH!!!! So good. BUT THEN MIRACLE!! As we were walking back to our car, and we still had 30 minutes before curfew we saw a YSA cutting through the parking lot from Grossmont College. WE CHASED HIM DOWN!! It was awesome. He has a beard! So obviously he reminds me of Adam! ;) But he's awesome! He let us watch the Easter initiative right there with him and he took a pamphlet and he had questions about family history and he wanted to learn more!!!!!!! Even though he claimed to be an atheist.... We shall see! Cameron's a good guy! We then met with him again Saturday morning on the church's front lawn. (Sooo beautiful!!! SPRING TIME!!!) And it was awesome! He's really open, told us his concerns and we just helped him build his faith in God! Woot woot! So excited to teach him more!<br />
Then Wednesday we were able to go to the food bank again! So good, service is good for the soul! :)<br />
And we had an appointment with a potential from when I was on exchanges, the semi pro rugby player. Her name is Elizabeth. She's awesome and she's from Chicago! Obviously cool. So we brought Holly with us, (and she just turned in her papers!!!!!) and Elizabeth is soo open! She never really had religion before so it was perfect! And she said she would be baptized!!!!!! Still having her think about when, she's going to pray about it. :) Then as we were dropping Holly off and walking back to the car, in the church parking lot again, we started talking to these two YSA. We asked if we could show the Easter initiative and THEY LOVED IT!! They said it was so what they needed! :) And one of them was moving to LA but we met with Xavier again on Monday, yesterday. And he loved the Restoration, he listened so intently and he said he'll be baptized on APRIL 23rd!!!!!!!! He just needs to come to church! Prayers and fingers crossed! :)<br />
And I also had a cool revelation that day as Sister Stewart started packing. We were talking about a successful mission, and what I realized is if you learned how to really use the atonement and become more converted to it, you had a successful mission. :)<br />
Thursday. Weekly planning. Sister Stewart had her departing interview with President. AND WE GOT TO GO TO OUTBACK BECAUSE OF VANESSA!! She's the sweetest. :) I love her lots! And then we also got to have a lesson at the temple with her! LOVE THE TEMPLE!!! And then a member got us cupcakes! Fancy cupcakes from Sprinkles!<br />
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Then Friday was BOOM BOOM BOOM appointments. Again. :) I have a GREAT life, I'm telling ya! :)<br />
We met with Jake, a great bloke, then we had lunch with the Tanners! They are so cute! Love them! They wanted to say goodbye to Sister Stewart! And then we had district meeting! Where we had party blowers in honor of Sister Stewart's birthday on Monday!!! Her golden birthday! 21 on the 21st BABY!!! ;)<br />
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We then had a coolest power hour with Eddie! We met up, said a prayer, gave him some pass along cards and then we were off!<br />
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<b>With Eddie and our cute member friend Emily</b></div>
He was so awesome! Walking up to people, saying hello, giving them cards! And then when we got into a neighborhood with no one in it, he was like, "Is this the part where we start knocking on doors?" HE'S SO COOL!! Fearless, fearless.<br />
We then met with Netta who finally picked a song to sing on Sunday, and I get the pleasure of accompanying her! :) Sweet lady sweet lady.<br />
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<b>with Netta! :)</b></div>
We then had an AWESOME lesson with our long term investigator Stephanie and her boyfriend Daniel. The spirit was so strong in that lesson especially when Stephanie said she felt like she didn't deserve any answers from Heavenly Father and then Daniel told her that being a daughter of God is reason enough to get an answer! SO GOOD!!!!!<br />
Then we met with Doug and Julie with the Konolds. OH I LOVE THOSE TWO PEOPLE!!!! And Doug has been coming to church and JULIE'S going to go to girls camp!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) :)<br />
Then we met with a recent convert who moved into our branch, I love recent converts, they have a missionary fire!! :)<br />
Then Saturday we taught our sweet investigator Gail. I love her so! She's in Mosiah 3!!! She's the best! And when Sister Stewart told her that she was leaving she was so sad. She started crying! She wanted to move to Utah to see her! She's so sweet and then during part of it she turned to me and was like, "You're going to miss her!" Oh she has no IDEA!!! I miss that Sister. She's my mission mama! She taught me everything and people tell me I'm just like her! Just saying, I miss her wouldn't even begin to to describe it. But, I love Gail, she needs a new baptismal date but she still wants to do it! She just needs to come to church! Fingers crossed for Easter Sunday! Then that night one of the pairs of Elders in our zone baptized five people! One was a family of three so we were able to take Vanessa to go see what a baptism was like. So since I was there I of course got snagged to play the piano. But I love it! Music at a baptism is the best! And Vanessa was the cutest, she was asking questions about what she needs to do for her baptism, I love her! :)<br />
Sunday, Sister Stew's last Sunday as a missionary! So of course she spoke in YSA sacrament meeting, I couldn't be there because of Grossmont's ward council but I heard she crushed it! Way to go Sis Stew!! And guess what, not only am I flooding the earth with The Book of Mormon, but I am flooding the earth with TACO SOUP!! First Idaho, now California! ;)<br />
The YSA had a linger longer and since no one really brings things we made taco soup. So we THOUGHT we had a big can of corn in the apartment but when we were trying to throw it together Saturday night we realized it was a big can of garbanzo beans....... Oh well! Don't worry! It still tasted good and we put chicken in it! It made it even better! :) And people even liked it! Many milagros! :) And no one got sick so that's an extra bonus! :)<br />
We also got to go to a Spanish mission president devotional since I got to play the piano. I love my piano skills! I love the piano. :)<br />
(Thanks Mumzi! :))<br />
Then Monday, we ran, boom boom boom appointments! We met with Xavier, we had lunch and Vanessa got a birthday gift for Sister Stewart. BECAUSE IT WAS HER BIRTHDAY!!! Don't worry, I baked her a mini cake while she was in the shower, I put up some signs, got her chocolate, bought her lunch and put some notes in her suitcase. :) Mission accomplished. :)<br />And then we had a power hour with Holly! We talked to a lot of people and got some referrals for the Elders! :)<br />
We also met with Eddie, he was so sad to see Sis Stew go. Eddie loves all the missionaries! He's a good guy. And then Sister Stewart went to more departure activities at the mission home with the Schmitts. So I got to be with La Mesa sisters for the day! Sister Starr and Sister Vernier! Their area was also BOOM BOOM BOOM APPOINTMENTS!! Living a good life. :)<br />
And we also had great lessons! One guy was from Brazil so had broken English so we brought a member who speaks Portuguese and we were teaching him and I brought up baptism and he started crying because he wants to get baptized so bad but no one has ever offered him. So of course we did! Leonardo is awesome and I'm happy I got to teach him! As he was walking up he tried to give me an awkward hug and I was pinned against the door so it was even more awkward, don't worry, he shook my hand. :)<br />
AHH MUCHOS MILAGROS!!! I LOVE SAN DIEGO!!!<br />
And I love Sis Stew! She's changed my life and it's so weird not having her here. We had to drop her off at the airport this morning, not a fun job. BUT I'M SO GLAD I GOT TO SEE HER GO!!! She's the best, she's in Kaysville Utah going to BYU. GO SEE HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ah, I can't even begin to express my love for her!<br />
Anywho, guess who's back down under in Santee?!?!?!?? MY FAVORITE AUSSIE SISTER PURCELL!!!!!!!!!! Ahhhh I love her and I'm so excited to be back with her! Watch out Santee, here we come! :)<br />
I love you lots family! Remember, I'm always cheering for you and especially remember at this time of year that Christ is too. Happy Easter! I LOVE YOU<br />
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Love,<br />
<br />Sister Whitcomb<br />
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<b>A 5:00am photo is necessary when your Mum leaves the mission!</b></div>
<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-44629982319779201962016-03-15T16:37:00.000-07:002016-03-17T18:52:29.318-07:00BOOM BOOM BOOMMI FAMILIA!!!!!<br />
!Buenos Dias! Just kidding, I'm not a Hermana! ;)<br />
Man oh man, how time flies.<br />
I hit my 10 month mark on Sunday, weird, I know. What's even weirder is that my companion, my trainer, is going home next week!!!!!! :( :( :( :( :( Super sad.<br />
I can't believe the next transfer is almost happening! CRAZY!<br />
I hope you all have had a marvelous week that has been filled with the spirit! Here is what mine was like:<br />
Tuesday night was a marvelous night filled with the spirit! Jeffrey R. Holland is the MAN! So good! And our Senior Missionary couple over the YSA, the Monks, made us milkshakes! The Monks' Milkshakes are the BEST!!! They even have a cool machine to make them.:)<br />
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I love them a lot!<br />
On Wednesday we had a fun filled day! First it started with service, and that is the best way to do it! The food bank in Santee. I love it when we go there because they are always like, "THE SISTERS ARE HERE!!" And then they hand us their cleaning supplies and let us clean out the moldy fridges haha. But seriously I love hat place and I love the people I have come to known! I'm glad Sis Stew got to experience it! Then it was BOOM BOOM BOOM! APPOINTMENTS!<br />
Those are the best!<br />
We first met with Jake, what a funny guy. He cracks me up without even meaning to. Then Eddie, one of the strongest converts I have seen. We also met with him on Sunday to introduce to him Power Hour. We had a little spiritual thought and invited him to come out with us. He was SO excited! And then we asked him if he wouldn't mind praying to see where we should go. So he said the most sweetest sincere prayer and then afterwards we explained it would be good to sit in silence so we can listen to what Heavenly Father is trying to tell us. So we did, I peeked open my eyes after the prayer and saw Eddie with his eyes still closed, head bowed on his knees, really trying to receive revelation. AND HE DID!!! So we are going to Lake Murray on Thursday with him! GET PUMPED!!! :) :) :)<br />
He's cool.<br />
And also in the YSA we have about three sisters that come to Relief Society; and they are the presidency. So we've been on a mission to recruit more sisters.<br />
We went to a YSA's house who's been going to her family ward and we snagged her! She actually ended up being our companion on Sunday when we split between the different wards. Leticia. What a sweetheart! :)<br />
We then had power hour and we've been planning them around members' homes so before we start we can go over and ask to say a prayer with them so we can see miracles. And then we report back to them either by text or email. And when we went to the Millers we found Gru's house! (From Despicable Me.) It was pretty cool.<br />
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<b>Gru's house</b></div>
On a more important note we gave a Book of Mormon to someone! That's the best gift I can ever give anyone and I make sure the person who is receiving it knows it. It's awesome.<br />
Power hour sometimes has a lot to do with spiritual training. It's cool to hear the spirit yell at you to turn around. Cool thing.<br />
Then we had dinner with the Leavitts and Vanessa! I LOVE VANESSA SOOOOO MUCH!! She's the sweetest, she brought a cute bundt cake and we talked about goals we have and goals Heavenly Father has for us. Vanessa has a goal to HAVE AN ETERNAL FAMILY!!!<br />
This week we are having a lesson with her at the Temple, I'm so excited!!! :) :)<br />
We also taught Saturday and she fed us breakfast!<br />
She's so cute! And she's working on her Family History! Oh she's awesome! She wants to involve her Mom too! And then when she came to church on Sunday she found me several times and gave me some hugs. It was the best. :)<br />
Then in Relief Society she was surrounded by members and she got the missionary dinner calendar and we saw her ask what it was and someone explained and then she signed up! Oh she's the best! Then that night we were trying to find less actives, they ended up being sick. But we found some cool potentials and to one of the people we were talking to we asked "Who do you know who has recently moved into the area?" Trying to look for service opportunities. And he pointed us to this apartment, we went to go knock on the door. We knocked, they opened and then they were like, "Oh Elders! Come in! Wait just kidding, you're Sisters! Come in! I'm sure our faces looked so confused because we truly were!<br />
They sat us down and by the way they were talking about wards and such we determined they were members. And then during their conversation they were like, "Man you're good! That was quick!" And then we told them what truly happened! It was the spirit! :)<br />And we had a really cool lesson where we realized that the Dad was really struggling, he opened up a lot to us. Trust was definitely built and I'm excited to go back and help that family.<br />
Thursday again started with service!<br />
The Spanish sisters have been setting up a time for our district to go sing at a nursing home. So we did! It was so fun! Just for 30 minutes we sang to our cute elderly friends. They were dancing and smiling, don't worry, it was all hymns and one primary song. Of course we had to do Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree! Hand actions and everything. I really am turning into Mom. ;) It was fun to shake all of their hands afterwards as well. I'm looking forward to doing it again! :)<br />
Then we weekly planned and had dinner with the cute Whitlock family! The ones<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (they're wearing matching purple shirts)</span> that are in the Mormon message, <a href="https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/expressions-of-love-2">"Expressions of Love."</a><br />
Don't worry, we got a picture with them. :)<br />
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<b>The Whitlocks</b></div>
Then we met with a YSA less active who lived in Lakeside. It was good, but she really couldn't tell us anything about Jesus Christ. So it was good to go back to the basics and remind myself how grateful I am for the knowledge and testimony I do have of my Savior. Thanks familia!<br />
Friday was departures for the departing missionaries, so Sister Stewart got to go to the temple with President and Sister Schmitt and do a session. So that meant I got to go to Hillsdale and Jamul with those Sisters! Never companion-less! So we just turned it into an exchange!<br />
I loved being in my first area(s). One of the highlights, we were walking on Taylor's old street and I ran into Chris! Chris is a former investigator, a friend of Taylor's brother Aaron and we taught him for like three lessons. I asked him if he was still reading the Book of Mormon. He wasn't but he said when he was, he got through half of it! So cool! We left him with our phone number! TENDER MERCIES!! We also went up into Jamul and did some service. It was nice to see the hills of Jamul. :)<br />
I also got to see some of the less actives in Hillsdale. It's sad to see them still in their situations but I was happy one of them set a goal to bring their mother's name to the temple!!<br />
WOOOHOOO!!!<br />
And also it was cool how I got to share the gospel from the car and invite her to be baptized!<br />
Don't worry, the spirit was there and she walked away with the Book of Mormon. A referral for the Elders in Tecate, Mexico!!!! :)<br />
And in our area Sister Stewart was with Sister Stewart!! Weird, I know.<br />
But they were able to see Gail, our 77 year old investigator. And in The Book of Mormon she was in JAROM!!! In JAROM!! How crazy is that! CRAZY. She says she listens to it in the morning and in the evening. It relaxes her, I love that sweet lady. So the sisters were able to commit her to baptism for April 9th! Just have to get her to church! :) I love her.<br />
Saturday was the BEST!!!<br />BECAUSE JULIE WENT TO THE TEMPLE WITH A FAMILY NAME!!!!!! So we got to go. :)<br />
The family name was Miss Wire.<br />
I know Miss Wire must be so happy and grateful to Julie! :)<br />I know I am! :)<br />Julie is just so happy! I learn a lot from her. I'm so grateful for her! And guess what, her dad Doug, HE CAME TO CHURCH!!!! WOOOHOOO!!! I was sooo happy when they both walked through the door! :)<br />Ah. So many tender feelings. We also had luck with a member, a member missionary lesson with a YSA, and then a cool power hour in Lakeside. So we were trying to go pray with our Elders Quorum president but when we were driving there we realized it was probably like the worst place to have a power hour. We were trying to find his house in these curvy, narrow, dirt roads and Sis Stew was backing me up and she saw some people and she started to talk to them. THEY WERE MEMBERS!!! And they hadn't been in like 20 years, she was about in her 60s and she had a YSA son who was there and he was actually baptized four years ago! Surprise members!! And they both said no one knew they were there so it definitely was for a reason! :)<br />
God is good.<br />
Then on Sunday we had two investigators there! Vanessa and Stephanie! We also were able to present the Easter initiative. #HALLELUJAH!!! I love how it means "Praise YE Jehovah."<br />
How are you praising Christ? How are you showing your gratitude for him?<br />
I'm serving him with all my might, mind, and strength and I hope to do that for the rest of my life! I'VE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER!! You all should try it someday. :)<br />AND ALSO ANTHONY, our recent convert, IS ENGAGED TO DULCE!!! His girlfriend who introduced him to the church.<br />
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<b>the happy couple (and the ring!)</b></div>
THEY ARE GOING TO GET MARRIED IN THE HAWAII TEMPLE IN FEBRUARY!!!<br />
AHHHHHHHH. Maybe somehow I'll be with Sister Pilkington in Hawaii in February. ;)<br />
On Monday we went on another exchange, the last exchange of the transfer!! And I stayed in our area with my sister! Sister Hendrix! She was trained by Sister Stewart! We have the same trainer! :) It was cool to be with her, she's from Georgia, a hard background but has a strong testimony of the gospel.<br />
Sadly, all of our appointments cancelled except for one, Ben Raab, the 10 year old recent convert. She was really good with him and we had a great lesson! :) For our power hour we were trying to find a YSAs house to pray with him, couldn't find it. But we were talking to people along the way and along the way someone referred us to his neighbor. So we showed her the Easter Video. We talked about the restoration and offered her a Book of Mormon. Someone had given her one two weeks ago! How more prepared could you get? We invited her to be baptized and she accepted! A great referral for the Elders in the family ward! Someday they will be our investigators! :) When you send referrals you get referrals. :)<br />It was a good Monday of talking to everyone and sharing the Easter video. Something I've loved doing with members is having them pull out a pen and paper and for 90 seconds have them write down every non member they know, doesn't matter how well and it doesn't matter if they are interested in the gospel. And then after that we invite them as we share the message to pay attention to what the spirit tells them and what name stands out to them and how they can help them increase their faith! It's worked really well! :)<br />
YOU ALL ARE THE BEST!! I'm so blessed to have you all in my life.<br />
You're all in my prayers and I hope this Easter season you all take a moment everyday for the REST of your life and remember what he did for YOU. I love you all, I'm cheering for all of you! :)<br />Love,<br />
Sister Whitcomb<br />
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<b>a hike in the Hills of Ramona</b></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-85274451364407894332016-03-08T13:31:00.000-08:002016-03-28T14:08:12.715-07:00Into the woodsWell Good Afternoon my loved ones!<br />
What a marvelous week full of wonderful weather, the spirit, and good laughs! I hope all of you have had the same great week as well! :)<br />
Today we got to go to the temple so sorry if this letter lacks details. Short amount of time and because we are in the YSA and have recent converts that are going, WE CAN GO WATCH FACE TO FACE WITH ELDER HOLLAND!!!! I'm SUPER excited. Being a missionary in general is pretty exciting!<br />
Well, where to start.<br />
Tuesday night we had appointments, boom boom BOOM!! It was quite nice. :) First one was with a less active, he's the coolest. He has family struggles and disapproval but he SO wants to come back to church! I WANT HIM TO TOO!!!!!! Lesson filled with the spirit.<br />
Then we went to go see our favorite elder recent convert, Stevenson, John Stevenson. Good man, good man. I love talking about The Book of Mormon with everyone so it was great! Then we taught Eddie, good ol' Eddie. HE WENT TO THE TEMPLE ON THURSDAY!!!!!!<br />
AHHHHHH, it's so awesome.<br />
We did not get to go because he wasn't able to get a family name in time, but that's okay! His faith is being built right now and I'm so impressed and so proud!<br />
It builds my faith!!!<br />
Wednesday was go go go day! But it was also a great day for revelation! And a great day to do service. I haven't done service in FOREVER!!! And so I was so excited a less active woman asked us to weed her yard. I've never been so excited to weed someone's yard! So when I get home, hurry and make me weed! I'LL BE SO EXCITED! Shaking things up, it's always a good thing!<br />
Then we had a cute lunch with a recent convert Jessica. We got her to do missionary work! And she comes out with us a lot, I love her, she's awesome!!!<br />
We then taught Jake. Fun fact: Jake was introduced to the church through The Book of Mormon Musical. He read the script, wanted the real Book of Mormon, so there the sister missionaries went!<br />
And here he is, a member of the church! He just went and saw the musical this past weekend, it's in town, so EVERYONE is going to see it. Good times. Have no fear, the church is still true! :)<br />
And major revelation then happened. We prepared for a zone conference where we were asked to give training for half the mission! No pressure, but Heavenly Father helped us out.<br />
We were asked how we can improve our restoration presentations we give at baptisms.<br />
Fun fact: 80% of nonmembers that attend baptismal services end up becoming members themselves! SUPER powerful experience!<br />
So we used the tools that had been given to us. I wish you all could have been there to feel the spirit, but basically I can sum up the tools we used to present the restoration and then you can picture it:<br />
-pictures of Christ, prophets, Book of Mormon, my family and my companions' family, Joseph Smith and the first vision.<br />
-we created a slideshow with "Come Unto Christ" music for Christ's ministry<br />
-we watched a video that had Elder Holland in it, explaining The Book of Mormon.<br />
-we recited the First Vision and BOOM.<br />
Spirit.<br />
I know that doesn't do a good job of describing everything we did and used, but it wasn't just a normal pamphlet lesson. I was proud of my companion and I. We did it on 10 minutes notice and the spirit was SO strong.<br />
So we prepared that on Wednesday.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>[Editor's Note] </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>I received an email from the mission president this week (3/25/2016) about this training that I will insert here:</b></span><br />
<i>"Your daughter is an outstanding missionary. She and Sister Stewart provided some amazing training at a recent multi-zone conference on teaching at baptismal services--it was incredible. We are so blessed to serve with her."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
We also had dinner with the Jenkins, the Grossmont Bishop's family and they had our investigator Vanessa over! So cute! We had breakfast for dinner. THAT IS MY FAVORITE!!<br />
Probably something I miss most. So it was awesome. And we had a super powerful lesson on Christ. All of the kids and the parents bore testimony, even Vanessa. Tears were of course included!<br />
Then we had another great lesson with our investigator Stephanie, she's dating a nonmember and she wants to get baptized a day after her wedding in June. She's been an investigator for a year. So I'm so grateful that she decided to get baptized. She reads The Book of Mormon everyday, has the most awesome prayers and keeps all the commandments! She's already a member.<br />
I love people like her. :)<br />
Thursday we traveled as a mission deep into the woods for zone conference. BEST. DAY. EVER.<br />
We went into the hills of Ramona in a camp called Camp Wildwood.<br />
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<b>Sisters with the BEST President!</b></div>
We had training, which we gave some of it, and then had team building experiences that were related to missionary work. And then my favorite part, a silent hike all the way up to a cross. We had the opportunity to carry a rock that represented our burdens and we got to lay it at the cross, giving it to our Savior.<br />
President Schmitt also gave us bandannas that represented the "ensign to the nation."<br />
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Super cool.<br />
Silent hikes are a genius idea, you all should do them. Especially when it's with a group of missionaries. It's the best.<br />
God is real. His creations are beautiful. His existence is evident all around us. It was a great day. It was sort of like Girls Camp, haha, but with Elders so that was weird. :)<br />
But I have to say, one of my favorite team building activities was when we just got up on these logs randomly and we were told we had to order ourselves from oldest to youngest without touching the ground. And if we did, the person who touched the ground would have to start over. I have to say I was impressed with my balance. And one of the funny moments: I just took a leap of faith and JUMPED, aka threw myself at my beloved Sister Carlson and she caught me! She's a gem. We had a good tender moment clinging to each other for dear life like we were on a tightrope 100 feet off the ground when really it was like six inches. Good times all around. :)<br />
I love going into the woods; especially on spiritual journeys. :)<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Our Lovely Trio</b></span></div>
I was so exhausted that night, but we still came back with three hours of work to do! And we worked!<br />
Friday we went on exchanges with the lovely La Mesa 2nd sisters. And I got to be with sister Vernier again! She's a gem! This is her second transfer in the mission! She's now done with training! She rocks. :)<br />
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<b>Fun Transfers</b></div>
We taught a lot of awesome lessons. One to a YSA less active named Jessie, super cool lesson and set some goals with him towards the Temple. We had a cool power hour in Lakeside. We sent five referrals out to other missionaries! It rocked. :) We also taught a convert trying to go to the temple. She owns a cute little flower shop so it was fun to read The Book of Mormon with her there. :)<br />
We had a ten minute dinner and then we taught my favorite people EVER!!! DOUG AND JULIE!!!! Oh man, I love them a lot. We taught The Plan of Salvation. We were able to bring our Bishop and his wife, it was their date night! (How cute!) Doug of course bore amazing testimony, he amazes me every time, and it was cool to hear Julie bear testimony too. Doug talked about how he's seen a difference in her, how she doesn't fight as much anymore with her sister and how she just glows. I LOVE HER SO MUCH!! AND SHE'S GOING TO THE TEMPLE ON SATURDAY AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GO WITH HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ah.<br />
It's the best.<br />
Doug also talked about the summer before Julie was with her family in Arizona who are all members. He talked about how the Uncle she stayed with was a Ward Mission Leader so she was surrounded by Elders constantly. Heavenly Father knew Julie needed sisters; someone who could be gentle with her because she is a very gentle and sweet person. And funny thing--this ward only got Sisters like six months ago. God is good. And I love Julie! :)<br />
We also taught a sweet YSA, Netta. She's coming back to church!!!!!! Ah, I love her so! And she's reading The Book of Mormon with her nonmember boyfriend. She's so cool!!<br />
Saturday, weekly planning because we had no other time to do it that week. But we also had a really cool spiritual lesson with a former investigator. He's Samoan and his name is Salatonu Tusitala. Cool right? He is the humblest sweetest YSA ever. He is so prepared for the gospel. His family is not, and he loves his family too much to go against them. He has a Samoan Book of Mormon so I know he will come. Who knows, maybe our lesson sparked something! But as of now, not yet.<br />
I'm so grateful I got to teach that lesson. I felt really in tune with the spirit. Our investigator Vanessa also fed us dinner. She's the sweetest! And she is so ready for April 3rd!! She's getting baptized! AHHHH. I JUST LOVE HER. We had stake conference that night too and she came! She's so awesome! It was a great session. Elder Craig A. Cardon was there. He gave the talk <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/the-savior-wants-to-forgive?lang=eng">"The Savior Wants to Forgive" in General Conference</a> a little while ago. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(April 2013) </span>Super good. He is a man of God, no doubt about it. So it was nice to be edified from him on Saturday and Sunday.<br />
And since it was stake conference, I fasted with the mission last Sunday. But I got to fast this past Sunday with my family. So that was nice, and a very spiritual fast for me.<br />
Monday. Thunderstorm Monday. It was AWESOME! I love the rain and I love thunder storms!!! We got to street contact an old woman who then took us on a tour of her Ohio State house, she's quite the fan, not interested, but still quite a fan. We then had a senior luncheon with the old sisters in our stake. We got a potential investigator out of it!<br />
Actually one of our members brought a friend, she lives in Lakeside so we will have to pass her off but we got an appointment with her so that was awesome!<br />
We then had a zone meeting. And the fun part of being a missionary, we got a sneak peek of the new <a href="https://www.lds.org/church/news/watch-and-share-2016-easter-video-hallelujah?lang=eng">Easter initiative video, "Hallelujah." </a>I love being a missionary and I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I can't wait for all of you to see the video!!!<br />
President came to our meeting as well, so that always keeps us on our toes. He's a good man. :) We then had an AMAZING lesson with our favorite 77 year old investigator Gail!!!! She's so cool! She wasn't able to read The Book of Mormon because she can't see. So we showed her how to listen to it and we listened to a couple of verses with her. Afterwards she just felt so peaceful and she wants to listen to it when she goes to bed! She's so cool!<br />
We started talking about The Plan of Salvation. During it she talked about how she really appreciated us coming over, how we have helped her get out of depression and the last time we left she was singing and dancing in the kitchen! (Can you picture that? ;))<br />
She started crying, she totally felt the spirit, she makes me happy. I love her.<br />
We also had power hour and started it off by knocking on a member's door to get them to say a prayer with us so we could find someone and then we would report to them that night to tell them what happened. To get them fired up on missionary work. So we did that, and no one was really out, and the people that we talked to were not interested. So we started knocking on doors. Very not interested. But we handed out a couple of cards. But the miracle really came not at our power hour, but it really was. It was right near our complex and we just followed the spirit and we were able to find so many potentials and set up so many return appointments! IT WAS AWESOME!!!<br />
God is good.<br />
We also had a family home evening with a family that was filled missionary work! I love it! I love it all. And I love you all!<br />
You all motivate me so dearly and just remember that I'm here cheering you on as well!<br />
<br />
I LOVE YOU!!!!<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
<br />
Sister Whitcomb<br />
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<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-89597042341654893942016-03-01T17:13:00.000-08:002016-03-17T18:53:09.823-07:00Take the LeapG'Day! (My wannabe Australian persona coming out!)<br />
Oh my familia. How I love all of you and how I love SanDiego. It's amazing how much love a heart can take! It's a lot. :) And I know there are a lot more people that I will love! :)<br />
But this week was fantastic, per usual. Our p-day was very relaxing and then we got to teach some lovely people that night! :) We met with a YSA who hasn't been to church for a while, Tony. He's the nicest guy, really loves the church and loves his family. He has some hard decisions to make but it was nice that I could faithfully say to him God will help him. Reach out, he will take your hand. BECAUSE HE LOVES US! Everyone says that but it's because it's TRUE! Then we had a cool miracle. We stopped by this less active family and they have a son who is nine years old and is not baptized. Missionaries have tried to teach him in the past but he's been unreceptive and the family has been in crazy situations. They still are in crazy situations but I would say less so. So that night we taught their family the restoration. They have six kids and the nine year old is the oldest. So you can imagine the chaos. But then imagine my surprise when all of them sat down and listened to the first half of the lesson. So good! God is good. Junior was really good at answering questions. He said a great prayer at the end AND he wants to be baptized!<br />
The parents were totally shocked and said next time we come by we can set a baptismal date for him! Wooohooooo! :) All the kids wanted their own copy of The Book of Mormon, it was cute. :)<br />
Then on Wednesday we went on exchanges with the Sisters that are in Tierra Santa, Sister Cava and Sister Grady. One of the sisters has been going through some medical problems and was staying in for a couple of days. So we wanted to help their area out and we went over. And Miracle of Miracles Heavenly Father helped her to feel better so she could work! Sister Cava and I went to Santee and then Sister Stewart and Sister Grady stayed in Tierra Santa. And more miracles happened! We both added someone in each area! In Santee he was someone we had street contacted on Monday. His name is Antuon, he is in the Navy and is VERY nice. We were able to bring one of our members, Sister Leavitt. She ROCKED it!!! She bore powerful testimony, invited him to the roadshow the stake was having later on in the week and invited him over to her house for dinner and a lesson! Perfect member present lesson. It was AWESOME!!! I hope I have that much courage when I am a member present because I'm TOTALLY doing it! :) Antuon's awesome though, right as I was in the middle of inviting him to be baptized he was like YES! It was awesome. :) Milagros for days!<br />
From that exchange I learned the importance of daily prayer and scripture study. How you might ask? The spirit. :)<br />
Then on Thursday we busted out weekly planning, except not really because we had a TON of appointments. First one was with our favorite, Netta. Poor Netta walked in upset, but we were able to follow the spirit and ahve a powerful lesson on the Atonement. Everyone needs that kind of lesson everyday. Good stuff. Then we went to TAYLOR MCDANIEL'S!!!!!! Sister Stewart has been waiting to go over there for a LONG time. The dynamic duo was back and we were able to see Taylor together! We also brought with us Valissa, a recent convert from Sister Stewart's old YSA Ward. She reminds me so much of Taylor, so of course they got along! It was so good to see Taylor again, I love her SO much!!! It was fun to see her testimony grow and see her remember her baptism day. Tender feels.<br />
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<b>With Taylor and Valissa</b></div>
Unfortunately Taylor is moving, again. We are pretty sure it's out of our area, but I know I'll see her again. SHE WANTS TO GO TO SCHOOL. IN UTAH AND SHE'S ALREADY APPLIED!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! More reason to go there someday... We shall see. But bottom line, I love her lots and she is never getting rid of me!<br />
We then went to go meet with a girlfriend of our investigator, and we talked about how she can help us during the lesson. Great use of our time, hopefully will make the lessons more spiritual. Can never have too prepared members! :)<br />
We were supposed to meet with Julie to do family history, she wasn't there but we were able to do it with her on Sunday. SHE HAS HER TEMPLE RECOMMEND AND SHE CAN GO TO THE TEMPLE SOON!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHH!!! I love it, I love her!!!! But while we were writing a note for Julie on Thursday her neighbor across the way opened the door and we just started talking to her. Robin is a very sweet lady and is very interested in hearing the gospel! I love it when people thank us for talking to them and say we made their day so much better. Makes EVERYTHING worth it! :) And one of our mission goals is to invite someone everyday to be baptized. So at 8:50 pm we still hadn't invited anyone but then as we were walking to the car we saw these two guys. We stopped and talked to them. One is looking for religion and was SO happy to meet us. He really wants to meet with missionaries. We talked to him about our message and my awesome mission mama invited him to be baptized! He said OF COURSE! So we passed him off to the Sisters in La Jolla! I'm excited for what lies ahead for Steve and I am grateful to have been part of his journey! :)<br />
On Friday we had a district meeting outside, so that was fun. Weird to be enjoying a nice summer breeze in February/March. But nonetheless that's my mission! :)<br />
So then we tried to finish weekly planning. Then we met with amazing Eddie and had an awesome lesson! I'm so proud of his progress and the amazing things he is doing to build up the Lord's kingdom! Because that is exactly what he is doing and what he is supposed to be doing! :)<br />
We then went to the Stake Roadshows. I did not know what a roadshow was until I came here but apparently it's where all the wards in the stake put skits together and they all revolve around a theme. And of course this year's theme was "Press Forward." Classy, I know! :)<br />
They were so ELABORATE! But great. I laughed a lot! And it was fun because we met some nonmembers our members brought, we got to sit with Doug and his family because Julie was in the roadshow!!! She was so cute! She did so good. :)<br />
Saturday. What a day. A day where we added another investigator! ANOTHER street contact! We contacted her on Monday. Her name is Gail, she is 77 years old, she's super cool, loves cats and has been through a lot. Super inspiring story. When we came back that day, we came with a member. They just bonded right away! And then we also found out that she had read through the restoration pamphlet twice! No one does that! She then looked up things on Mormon.org! HOW COOL IS SHE???? :) She will be baptized if she knows it's true, which it is, by the way. :)<br />
We also stopped by the Rabbs, had a good lesson with little Ben. His eight year old sister, not baptized, is very interested in the church and is learning about everything. She has no religious background so it's going to be fun to build her faith and teach her! :)<br />
Then game day. Sunday! Stephanie was the only investigator to come to church. But Julie, Eddie, Jake and Anthony came!! All of our recent converts!!!!! :) Good day.<br />
Eddie wore a white shirt and tie for the first time! And he also received the Priesthood and his temple recommend!!!!!!!!!!!! SO EXCITED!!!<br />
And then Jake blessed the sacrament for the first time! It was a day full of tender feels. :)<br />
A day full of running around, being on splits with members to cover both congregations and attending ward councils, and I got to teach YSA Relief Society. So that was fun! Sister Stewart was in sacrament meeting for Grossmont, so I taught by myself. Good times! I based it off of President Uchtdorf's talk, "It Works Wonderfully!" Good talk, good talk. You all should read it again!<br />
We also met with a YSA before church and learned his story and helped his faith grow. He is a convert. Shortly after he was baptized he was in a rock climbing accident and he lost most of his memories. So he got to be converted to the church twice! How cool is that? Double the testimony and he has double the faith! Great faith. Not an easy journey. Great game day.<br />
Then Monday we had MLD (Missionary Leadership Countil ON LEAP DAY!!<br />
HAPPY LEAP YEAR!!!! :)<br />
President Schmitt made us all do a frog leap and see who could go the farthest, even all the sisters in skirts and dresses. I can promise you I did not go the farthest, I was too worried about holding my skirt down! But he asked a really cool question: "What is it going to take for you to take the leap this year?" Deep. MLC is always deep.<br />
President also introduced us to the new Easter initiative, "Hallelujah." It was AWESOME!!! I'm so excited to use this and see more of God's children be converted to this gospel. Watch out for it, it comes March 13. BE EXCITED!!<br />
When we came back we tried our appointment we had set up with a potential but it fell through. BUT as we walked around and talked to everyone and knocked on some peoples doors, we got a referral!<br />
This man wasn't interested but we asked who he knew who has recently had a death in the family and he right then and there called his friend Lisa. And on the phone he referred to us multiple times as "Baby Angels." Made me chuckle.<br />
So we walked over to Lisa's apartment. We were able to show her"Because He Lives." We bore testimony, said a prayer, set a return appointment, and gave her a restoration pamphlet. BOOM. She's an investigator. Tender mercies of the Lord. God is good. I love him.<br />
I love this work. I love my mission! I love my companion! I love every single person I have met and everything I have gone through! And most of all, I love all of you! You all mean so much to me and I'm so blessed Heavenly Father allowed me to be in all of your lives!<br />
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!<br />
Love,<br />
Sister Whitcomb<br />
<br />
PS For p-day today we went to Sunset Cliffs. Good day good day.<br />
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<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114834546692154080.post-49921848822138203322016-02-23T16:26:00.000-08:002016-03-11T17:39:01.705-08:00Trio-->-->-->DuoWelcome, Welcome Tuesday Morning!<br />
And Welcome to you, my loved ones! :)<br />
My heart is full, but it's always full as a missionary! How could it not be? What a wonderful week. Full of growth, smiles and the spirit!<br />
I guess I'll start with Tuesday night. We were able to teach our favorite 66 year old recent convert, John. We sat outside his little trailer, drank some herbal tea and ate some cookies and talked about The Book of Mormon. He's a sweet man, and I'm glad I get to help him expand his testimony.<br />
We then went on splits that night; Sister Purcell went with a member to try a part member family. They weren't home so they then tried our investigator Vanessa. It worked out perfectly! I love members who love our investigators! :) So then Sister Stewart and I went to go try a new move in family, taught them the Restoration and encouraged them to do missionary work. I love going on splits with members, you get double the lessons! Double the joy! Double the salvation!<br />
Then we were able to teach a nine year old convert some of his new members lessons. His home is a struggle so I'm always glad when we go over and invite the spirit into their home.<br />
On Wednesday we had another Missionary Training Experience, one of those big meetings where we go on exchanges with the Sisters we are over. I love praying about who should go where; it's always such a privilege to receive revelation from our Heavenly Father!<br />
I was able to go with Sister Seo, from Korea, in her area, in LaJolla. Sister Purcell also came with us! And you know what's so awesome about La Jolla, THE TEMPLE IS IN THEIR AREA!<br />
So at one point in the day we were able to park there and then go street contact at a park near the temple! So cool! We street contacted someone who was even on the Temple grounds! We also talked to a Japanese woman who had a dog who was imported from Japan! How crazy is that? The dog was quite vicious, he took a couple of nips at Sister Purcell's leg and then entangled Sister Seo and was literally chewing on her arm! And Sister Seo, being the cute sister that she is, was just laughing and smiling! Don't worry, I saved her! ;)<br />
Another fun thing Sister Seo did was she saw someone jogging along the side of the road and started to jog with them and give him a pass along card. She cracks me up! :)<br />
We were also supposed to teach a referral at the Temple, but he never showed up. But we had a member there and he asked us if we could teach his daughter about the Temple! So we did. That father had so much love for his daughter, I could just see it in his face. He wants her so badly to go to the temple! It was the sweetest. :)<br />
For dinner, we had these delicious muffins, including my favorite cupcake of joy muffins! (Shout out to the Stokes for always making those for me for seminary! It made me smile to have them again! :))<br />
At the beginning of the day we set a goal to set someone with a baptismal date. And by 8:30 we still hadn't, but we were determined and did not get back in the car until we found someone! And literally the last door we knocked on was a miracle!!!!!! So he is a former investigator named Jordan. We got to know him, talked about if he would like to come back to church and learn about the gospel. We felt prompted to invite him to be baptized so we did! AND WE SET HIM WITH A BAPTISMAL DATE OF MARCH 19th!!!!! He is so cool, he asked what church he will be baptized into geographically. :) He's ready! Just needs a little bit of time. :)<br />
In our area, Sister Stewart was with Sister Seo's companion, Sister Clark from Temple Square, and they saw miracles too! :) They added a YSA investigator!! MILAGROS!!!! :)<br />
They also taught Eddie to prepare him for his baptism about the priesthood. He is so excited to get the priesthood and he said he wants to baptize the WORLD!! I love it. They also taught our investigator Philip!<br />
He's dating a member and he's been hard to get a hold of and so that was a miracle in itself and a member was finally able to come with them and it made ALL the difference! (So go out with the missionaries, YOU matter!)<br />
He just felt the spirit and knows it's all true and really wants to be baptized on March 12th!!!<br />
WOOHOOO!!!!! :)<br />
Then on Thursday we set goals and made plans for the future week in our weekly planning session. We had dinner with our branch president which was nice, and we were able to teach a less active named Netta. I actually first met her when she walked into Black Mountain Branch one day, so she actually lives on Asa tee, and now I'm here teaching her!<br />
Such a great lesson about charity; reminds me I need more of it! We also got to teach Eddie again to help resist Satan's temptations before his baptism on Saturday. We taught him about Temples and Family History to help prepare him. It was awesome, it helped me reflect on my visits to the Temple. Especially when Kaleb was baptized for Ben. That event will always hold a special place in my heart. Especially since I have a more expanded knowledge of it now. :)<br />
Friday, oh Friday. I guess it was time for things to be shaken up because we got a phone call from President Schmitt. Apparently one of the sisters had to go home suddenly for medical reasons and he needed one of us to be with the other Sister for an unknown period of time. Could be a week, two weeks, or for the rest of the transfer. He wanted us to counsel about it and help him decide. Man, that was stressful, and scary and sad.<br />
I LOVE MY TRIO!!! But I now know that this is why we were placed into a trio; to help the other sisters out. So we fasted on Saturday. We didn't really get a specific answer besides how all of us would be good for it. So it came down to logic and what would be best for both areas and we decided Sister Purcell is the one the Lord wants. That was her first area, it's actually Black Mountain YSA, we both served there! I actually took her place. :) Crazy stuff. I will miss my favorite Aussie, hopefully she will come back soon! But it was so sad to drop her off last night, and it was sad to send a sister home but I know the Lord is in charge of this work and he will take care of all of us. But I am VERY happy I get to stay with my mission Mama, SISTER STEWART!!! She's literally the best and I'm so thankful to be with her again and learn as much as I can from her. :)<br />
We also had district meeting on Friday, talked about how we are all angels and we need to treat each other as such. Super good. We also got to meet with a less active who reached out to us, that's always nice, and she's in a sad point in life so I hope the ward and we will be able to help her! And then we had our last lesson with Eddie before his baptism. He was counting down the hours! HE'S SO COOL!!!!!<br />
AND THEN SATURDAY CAME, THE DAY EDDIE GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!! Sister Stewart also had a baptism that day in another area but due to conflicting times and being too far away she got permission to Skype in. It was so fun to see! And her investigator, Janelle, after she was baptized she lost her contacts! SO FUNNY!!<br />
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<b>Skyping into Janelle's baptism</b></div>
And Sister Carlson, who is the bestest in the world and was holding the iPad, took a screenshot of our reactions. It's the best!<br />
But so was Eddie's baptism.<br />
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He brought two nonmember friends.<br />
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<b>Eddie and his two friends</b></div>
We were able to talk to them after. They aren't interested in lessons at the time but they accepted copies of The Book of Mormon and said they would join Eddie someday in his lessons! SWEET!<br />
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<b>All of the sisters who taught Eddie</b></div>
The baptism was awesome, a bunch of YSA came, Sister Pilkington and Sister Cortello were able to sing at the baptism and I was lucky enough to accompany them! Beautiful Savior, it's a great song. Look it up.<br />
Then at the end of the baptism Eddie was able to bear his testimony. He's a good guy. He's very grateful for everything that's happened, and so am I! God is good! :)<br />
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Sunday was awesome. Great game day. It was Ward/Branch conferences in both congregations. The Stake President is AWESOME; he came to both our baptisms this past two weeks and he gave marvelous talks in both congregations! :)<br />
I loved the message of 'our members don't live up to their full potentials as children of God! We are children of the most high! Live it up! :)<br />
Vanessa came to church with her two boys and EDDIE WAS ALSO CONFIRMED A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH!!! It was great. :)<br />
We also had a mission president's devotional. Sister Stewart and I were asked to participate in it. So spiritual, one of the best ones! The convert testimonies were amazing and so were the musical numbers! I accompanied an Elder and a Sister from my district and they sang "Love is Spoken Here." A great one. And a lot of the departing sisters sang "Lead Kindly Light." Including Sister Stewart and Sister Pilkington. :( Sad day when they leave, but glad they brought the spirit!<br />
I was also able to accompany Sister Carlson and she sang "Where Love Is." SO BEAUTIFUL! And there is this Elder from Venezuela who plays the cello SO BEAUTIFULLY! It was an honor to play with him. He is totally professional and it was cool to invite the spirit, music is so powerful! I've never felt the spirit so much and my testimony so much through music! It was amazing!<br />
Especially when for the choir I was able to help accompany, "Love One Another." The Elder playing the cello played the first time through a capella and then I joined him for the second time through. I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO PHRASE SO MUCH!!! It was amazing, thank you Mrs. Wardwell for that wonderful training in High School! WORTH IT!!! Great day, great day.<br />
And I got to sing in the choir "I feel my Savior's love." And one of my favorite lines is "I'll Offer Him My Heart. My Shepherd He will be."<br />
UGH SO POWERFUL!!!<br />
If you just truly think about the words, it means so much more instead of just singing words on a page. It makes ALL the difference.<br />
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Monday. Monday.<br />
Had to send Sister Purcell away. :( But we were able to meet with Eddie and have a powerful lesson on the Plan of Salvation. My testimony grew from it. "Death has no sting, the grave hath no victory."<br />
BECAUSE WE WILL BE SWALLOWED UP IN CHRIST. Let him swallow you, it's worth it. We had a great power hour as well, walked around apartment complexes, invited people to be baptized, set return appointments with potential investigators. SO EXCITING!! "The field is white and is READY to harvest!" So don't let it spoil and rot!<br />
Don't let these people slip through your finger tips. The Lord knows and he will qualify ALL of you. He loves you and I love YOU! Keep on ROCKING!<br />
Love,<br />
Sister WhitcombSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594577770954190684noreply@blogger.com0