The Miracle of Service

We have deeply inspired leaders in this church. I am so so so grateful for them! Stake Conference was a special broadcast to all the South-Eastern States-- probably the same one that Uncle Michael and Uncle Jonathan got to see!!! We're kind of connected (:

L. Tom Perry, Sister Stevens from the Primary presidency, Elder Carlson and Elder Johnson from the seventy, and our Stake president, President Chandler all spoke. The addresses were powerful.

I learned how to develop self-discipline, how to plant seeds in people's hearts, that we should never take "selfies," and that the Lord is indeed hastening His work.

Guess what that means?! Jesus Christ is coming soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can wait for this one. I am motivated to live more healthily and righteously than ever before, so I can continue to help prepare the world for this wonderful time!

The part about selfies really got me-- Elder Johnson was pointing out how self-absorbed and independent our society has become, and how we could give one another service opportunities even by just asking someone else to take a picture of us (: It was so funny! And so true! I know the gospel answers the questions in people's hearts. The addresses specifically addressed many of our members' concerns. Elder Johnson also pointed out how Service performs miracles in our lives. Service is a catalyst for a change of heart. It is what helps us more than anything else to become like Christ.

This week, we have been working with Mary. She is also a life-long smoker, and we're hoping she will have the faith to quit. I am so glad Grandpa Craig quit smoking!!!!! It really does kill you. Just in case anyone was wondering... 

Another big news is that I am being transferred to a new area next Tuesday! I am so sad, I can't believe it. I will miss the people here a whole bunch. I will get my new address to y'all as soon as I can!

Love,

Sister B

Wide Eyes

I feel like a different person today than I did last Monday.

Thursday, after interviews with President Bernhisel, we found out that our investigator, Sherrie, passed away in her sleep. She was about 44 years old. We don't know if she'll have a funeral, because her family is really poor. We are hoping to do her work a year from now in the temple. She was hoping to be baptized at the end of this month. Pray for her family and friends! They are heart broken.

Chelsea was able to be baptized with her husband on Saturday :)))) It was incredible.

I went on an exchange Robison County, NC. It was eye-opening. It is the poorest county in NC, and allegedly holds the record for the lowest education per capita in the entire country. We taught in a super, super old house that didn't have heating. The lady was all bundled up and sitting next to her space heater, but we were FREEZING. It was nuts. Lots of people struggle with bad drug histories there. Then we went and taught a couple ladies living in trailer homes and government housing. Mostly the people were humble, and the Spirit was strong. Poverty can harden hearts just like wealth can in some cases though.

I tried on one member's army gear! It was SO HEAVY. I can't believe they combat in them. I felt so light after I took it all off, I got light-headed. I'm a wuss. (note the teetery stance- about to tip over). I felt like a Warrior though!! (all you really need is the armor of God)

Yesterday, I asked some ladies in Relief Society, "The Savior's life was so difficult: he lived a life of suffering and persecution, and then he died shamefully- Why do we want to be like Him? How can we claim to want to be like Him, if our main focus is to make our lives easy and relaxing?" Now, I have been thinking about that all night and all day today. I know it is a silly question. I have found though, that it is worth it to think about it this way, because it may open your mind to the blessings in your life, and the areas where you NEED to re-center yourself on Jesus Christ.

We want to become like Christ, because He overcame temptation, physical death, spiritual separation from Heavenly Father. Not only that, He did it, and was able to do it, because He lived a life free from guilt or shame or sin. This was only possible, because of who He was, and that is why we need to become like Him, in order to escape terrible, eternal baggage. Our sins and mistakes will literally bog us down into the muck without a Savior to lift the burdens of consequence. Thus allowing us to learn and grow and become.

Without God, we can do nothing. John 15:5. I love the mormon message entitled "Lifting Burdens." Look it up for a quick minute-I really have faith in Him, and in what He did for us. I know I do, because my actions are changing, and my thoughts are changing, and I want to do good, and be good and help others. The enabling power of the atonement is real and tangible! I want to impress it upon every human mind and heart!

Lots more to tell, but I'm out of time! Thank you for your notes and for your packages and letters and love. I hope all is well with you all, that your lives aren't easy, but that you're becoming each day (: I know the gospel is the way to happiness and peace and forever families! Christ lives and loves us, Heavenly Father has a body, and watches over us and plans for us every step of the way. Prepare yourself to share this truth with everyone in all you do and say!

Love, Sister B 

March 3rd

Hello! I love you all!


 Life has been fairly lovely. We get to teach so much, and we think it's because we are serving two wards and a branch. If I ever get transferred, I may have way too much energy for a single ward to handle.. Did I ever mention that 7 hours of church is a stretch? *cough* I mean a joy? It's grown on me, let's just say that.

There was a lady this week whose husband is taking her to court to appeal for custody of her kids. When she was in town looking for an attorney, she felt super desperate and decided to pray and ask for help. After coming out of the building, she ran into some missionaries who referred her to us. Heavenly Father is so mindful of His children! She came to church yesterday, and LOVED it. We have never seen someone so eager to jump in and be involved. She kept looking over at us and smiling this big smile. She said after gospel principles, "I'm on cloud 9!" hahaha It was great.

The weather has been rolling in nastily. Freezing rain, snow, black ice, hail. Rotten weather makers. Don't they know I am scared of driving in bad weather? No worries gram, I go slow and steady.

I was so close to finishing the BOM in 30 days! only about 70 pages short. Ah well, I'll go for 35 days. I have to admit, the Spirit comes in ultra-mega-abundance when we read the Book of Mormon in faith.

I'm grateful for agency, because I like having a say in what happens in the world. Even if all we have is a small sphere of influence, Heavenly Father can take our efforts and create a ripple effect to people we don't even know yet. I hope y'all are letting your lights shine. I promise miracles do come to pass. 

This weekend, Chelsea and her husband, Patrick, are going to be baptized!!!! This is my first married couple, and I am Thrilled!!!!!!!!!!! I've been with Chelsea from the beginning, and it's amazing seeing her grow so much!

Tomorrow I get to go on an exchange down to Pembroke-- this'll be real north carolina cooking I hear, so I'll let you know how it goes (: Sister Arave sends her love!

Keep looking UP there is so much to live for, we just don't remember it all. Enjoy some more pictures-- sorry, I am still working on getting a new memory card for my camera, (I just keep forgetting) so probably in the next week or two, you will get to see a lot of awesome pictures of our apartment, and the amazing people I love here. (:

Meet the Zone!

Zone conference 

a snapshot of companionship study

Movie night with kettle corn and gatorade (I rigged the TV table myself!)

Last, but most certainly not least -- the most impressive double chin I have ever managed in my life. Tragically, it was unintentional... let's just say that the time has come for single servings + no sweets

Almost Heaven, North Carolina!

Hello wonderful family and friends!

This has been the best week of our mission yet!! I love trials, because they make all the little blessings so big and wonderful! This week, we experienced the biggest snowfall North Carolina has seen in a decade! All businesses and schools were closed for 3 days! It was so crazy!! We went out driving, and were looking around thinking, "what is the big fuss all about?" It was pretty icy in some areas though. Wednesday was definitely the most snow, and it happened to get super bad while we were in district meeting 1 hour from home... Luckily, we drove with Elder and Sister Mauerman that day, so he handled the crazy snow driving. The snow also correlated perfectly with Sister Arave's worst sick days!

We had to go to a couple more doctors this week, and finally got a solid prognosis of Sister Arave's pain!!!!!!!!!! I was so excited to finally understand all the pain she has been in. Huge relief that we now have a game plan to help her get back in good health. It has involved 2 half days this week when we had to come home early for her to rest, one of which was Wednesday, when we couldn't have gone out anyway. So we finished studying and planning, and then watched "The Testaments" on our little dvd player while eating pistachios, kettle corn and drinking gatorade. It was so fun, I can't even tell you. That movie gets funnier and more powerful every time.  I got the chance to read A TON of Jesus the Christ and the Book of Mormon, and received some amazing answers to my prayers. My old love for reading has been coming back in full force, and my love for the scriptures is exploding! Right now, I've taken on a challenge from our investigator, Chelsea, to read the Book of Mormon in 30 days (she randomly opted to do this last month, so now it's our turn.) Being immersed in the Book of Mormon this week has consecrated our experiences good and bad, and filled my heart and mind with hope and peace and comfort from the Holy Spirit. This week was definitely an Alma 26:27-28 experience. I wouldn't trade it for all the pearls in China.

I love this mission!  There are people I have met in the past two weeks that I so know I was supposed to meet, and the relationships that are growing with ward members and less active members just continue to be wonderful. The Copes are one of my favorite families. She joined the church about 5 years ago when they were both enlisted studying to be army interrogators. They actually ended up deploying together which made for some intense stories. Sis. Cope is a great member missionary. Love working with her!

We continue to find and teach people who are prepared not only to hear the gospel, but to hear it from us. As we lead from our strengths, we feel the Spirit working through us, and grow together. It is so great! I love you family. I hope you know I pray for you always. 

"Now this is my joy and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen." -Ammon the missionary (my hero)

Enjoy the kodak moments.
Sister B

Us in the waiting room at the doctor's office-- funnily, we made up a role play about contacting in a doctors office two weeks ago, before Sister Arave got sick! hahaha

waiting in the car for everyone to show up at district meeting.

The SNOW!

On the couch with Tessa Cope. 2 year-old Tessa just scooted onto the couch between us during the lesson, and Sis. Cope took a picture (: cutest thing ever.

Making Things Happen

Heavenly Father has given us the power to make things happen. This is called faith. When we exercise our faith (i.e. pray, get up in the morning, take sacrament, study scriptures, put HF first) we create opportunities for ourselves to become like Him. We make good things happen by submitting our will to His.

This Saturday, Sister Arave was having really bad pain in her stomach and back. I gave her oils, prayed with her and rubbed her back, she got a priesthood blessing, and she rested under her heated blanket for a few hours, but the pain didn't change. We counseled with the mission doctor and decided to go to the ER.

Emergency Rooms are kind of scary late at night. We ended up being there for almost 8 hours. It was awful, but there was a definite purpose for this experience. At first, I couldn't believe that I didn't have enough faith to make Sister Arave get better! I was confused and frustrated. I was missing the point though. We come to find out as the night went on: The nurse that took care of us had a best friend in Maine who is a member of the church. Nurse Sharon was overjoyed to take care of us, and told us all about her favorite things about the church. She asked if she could take us out to dinner with her husband once Sister Arave was feeling better. All of a sudden it hit me: Our faith in God allowed us to cross paths with Sharon. We made that happen. Because we were praying and seeking for Heavenly Father's help, we got to meet her and teach her more about the restored church.

This experience reminds me of Enos's experience-- "And I said Lord, how is it done? And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen." (vs. 7-8)

I know Heavenly Father hears and answers all of our prayers. His ways may not be our ways, but His is the most joyful and fulfilling way, individually prepared for each of us to discover our unique talents and to become creators of good things. Why do bad things happen? 1 Nephi 11:17. He loves us. I know it, I promise I do.

I am grateful for questions and for the Holy Spirit. I am grateful for every person that has tried to leave a piece of truth in the world. If we let them, all true things will testify of the love of God.

Love y'all!
Sister B

p.s. Sister Arave is doing better. We feel your prayers.

Hi! I love you people!

Not sure what news to share! This is my Monday dilemma. 

My favorite thing in the whole world this week is the Sacrament. I love the feeling of having my whole self, body and soul, feeling clean and pure and peaceful again. Forgiveness is a gift from God. We have to seek it though; the best gifts aren't hand-outs.

I tried my first military MRE this week. Yum! The fire-less heating device was miraculous! I couldn't believe my eyes! The equipment that comes in the package only needs a little water and then voila! Presto hot meal! I was in rapture. 

I also had a special moment with a special furry animal this week-- Brownie the Rabbit happened to be hiding in a Member's bathroom when I decided to go in to answer mother nature's call... It was nice to have company I guess. ;)

Biggest news is probably that: IT SNOWED! All the schools shut down for 3 days. It was so weird. We ended up driving anyway, because we missed the call that missionaries should try to stay off the roads... oops. Luckily, it was only an inch, the roads were far from icey, and we both come from Utah, so we enjoyed a taste of home and a reason to wear mittens.
Don't you love how life stops sometimes for certain things? It was such a relief to get some variety into the daily routine! Tender mercies (:

I have so many friends now in this area; every day is a delight. Relationships are that much stronger when they are built around the gospel. I still love meeting new people, and knowing I was meant to bring this special message to them. They can benefit from my slant and my experience. Heavenly Father trusts us with that! Isn't it exciting? It makes me want to SPRING out of bed each morning! There is a purpose for life! There is hope and joy and peace to be had! Just when life starts looking rosy, I know to expect trials ahead. I'm going forth with peace in my heart. Adventure's out there!

North Carolina is beautiful. I like the thick air. It rains and reminds me of Germany. Not to cause any hard feelings, but we truly couldn't be happier. Not even if I had my mountains and my oboe and my sisters here too. My joy is full in serving our Savior. 

I lovfe you... oops typo. It kind of looks like a russian accent though. I will let you enjoy that.

Love y'all!

Sister Boucher