Can you tell I'm excited?

MOTHER's DAY! Okay some logistics first:
Matthews ward meets at 9am (if I remember correctly) and I will be calling Mom's cell phone on May 10th at approximately 11:00am MDT which means pick up your phone at 1:00pm EST and have it charged. Since my cellphone is sprint and your cell is sprint it won't cost anything! Woohoo. :) I'm planning on talking to each person for 10 minutes if that is okay...so maybe if you want a timer by you...(Andrew can be in charge of that...) and I will also call Ashleigh earlier that morning for 10 minutes with the permission of my mission president. :) So there you have it...put it up on the kitchen whiteboard...if you still have it...or if you haven't moved or redone the whole house so I wouldn't recognize it. This week has been GREAT! We had 21 MEMBER lessons. We as missionaries strive to have a member at every lesson so that they can testify of the things that we have taught them. So usually we have some member lessons but then some others when we contact with out having a member but this week we had a member with us at EVERY LESSON WE WENT TO! I just want to say that if the missionaries call and ask you to go out with them...go...and ask them what they'd like to have you testify of. Also tell them that you are welcome to having people come to your home and being taught...this is a place where the spirit can dwell and you know that there won't be much distraction because you are allowed to control your own home. :) We really appreciate member help...in all different ways! This week we found a boy name Josh he's 17 and well he found us really. We got a call that this boy wanted us to teach him so we decided to stop by that night. It was our last lesson of the night and it was great to end the night that way. He is so prepared to hear the gospel and the message. We told him he should come by the VC the next night to see a display and he said he would. He came with his girlfriend (who introduced the church to him...and we had the lesson at her house the night before) and we talked...he had ALREADY READ what we assigned and prayed about it. Do you know how hard those two things are to get people to do?!? It's like "you can know for yourself..." and they are saying "I'd rather have you tell me.." when they don't read...it's hard. But he did that just that night that we gave it to him...so we had to step up and put this in full gear...we gave him 3 chapters and The Living Christ to read before Sunday...and he told us he know Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet...it's amazing. We are so thankful for him and is readiness. I hope some of our other investigators catch on fire like that. I'm sure that's how things happened for you Dad...you just wanted to know more and more. Josh said "something is missing in my life" and Dad has told me "I was searching for truth.." these types of things can be answered with the Gospel and it's amazing how it changes people's lives. I'm so thankful for the knowledge I've been privileged to have my whole life....I never noticed the simple things that I might have taken for granite. I love the work..things are going well...I hope Sis.Grunauer and I stay comps for a little longer.
Love you all! Love, Sister Page

What Did I Even Do This Week?

Hello to all...and to all Hello! :) The days are running together a little bit. We are always running around with our heads cut off and loving every minute of it! :) We had a baptism of a little 9 year old girl named Taylor and her sister (who's 8) named Mackensie. You would be so impressed with these girls. They strengthened my testimony so much! Sometimes people wonder how Joseph Smith could be wondering such things about his soul at age 14 but I know from my short time in the mission that children even younger than that are wondering what they need to do to return with their Father in Heaven! Taylor wanted to wait for her dad to baptize her and her parents were inactive so that's why she was 9 when she got baptized and needed the missionary lessons as well. But when we came over, her and Mackensie (who didn't even have to HAVE the lessons) were excited, they read, and they remembered EVERYTHING that was taught. We told them that they only way to gain a testimony is by reading the Book of Mormon and Taylor said "well I already know it's true...but it's hard to read" She already had a testimony that it was true even before she could understand it. We told her to pray for understanding before she read and not to get frustrated (because she was getting frustrated...it kind of reminded me of me...) When we came back for our next appointment she said "I had a good attitude and I prayed...and guess what? I understood!" If a 9 year old child can understand the Book of Mormon and have faith that her prayers were answered...I know I can too...I know everyone else can as well. They were super cute kids and I'm hoping we can stay in touch for many years. :) We always talked about them going on missions...that would be amazing. Another investigator Stephanie who we put on date a couple weeks back (if you remember) will not be getting baptized this week...but she still wants to meet with us and knows she'll get baptized sometime soon just not THIS soon...if she doesn't feel ready we don't want to push her before she does. I don't want a baptism I want a convert! :) She's super in tune with the spirit and I know she'll figure out what's kind of holding her back. I wish Arin was here because they could be good friends...Stephanie is 18 and just graduated but I know they'd get along...plus Arin is just good a befriending people anyways. I was able to receive a note this week from the Holmes'! They came into the VC while I wasn't there...again. I was happy to get the note though...I put it in my journal...now it's a part of my mission history! WOOT! :) Though I do wish I could see someone I know...it'd be way awesome and I'd give them a super great tour too. So something I've been studying lately and giving other people to study is 3 Nephi 17...it's an awesome chapter...but it reminds me of Christ's love for people and the fact that He postponed things He needed to do because He loved the people. He still does that for us...our many prayers go answered...even the little ones...even when I'm sure He's got a lot to do! :) It reminds me to be like that. Even though we're busy as missionaries we can still show compassion for people. When we spend time with someone I hope they know we are giving them one of our most precious gifts and feel the love we have for them because of that. I'm glad I have this TIME to write you...and that you actually read what I write...it amazes me. I love you and thanks for everything that you do.

Love, Sister Page

ps. be thankful that you live on the east coast...here it takes 5 years to be able to feed the missionaries...crazy huh? I'm glad I got close to the sisters in the Matthews ward! Also I heard that Miss North Carolina won Miss USA...way to represent...now tell me does she have an accent? haha

Zone Conference..Oh The JOY!

So this week went by fast and slow...it was like waiting for Christmas...because we had ZONE CONFERENCE yesterday...man that's the highlight of the transfer. You go and get spiritually fed so that you can go and spiritually feed. What an amazing concept. :) We talked about using the scriptures and how that is the only way in conversion for anyone...when you read the BoM you feel the spirit and that spirit testifies of truth and the truth had to come from Prophet even Joseph Smith...it's all related. They are so powerful. President Brown (my mission president...who IS possibly one of the greatest people I know...fyi) said "if you don't have a desire to read the scriptures everyday...somethings wrong.." I agree...the theme of the conference was Alma 31:5 the word of God (or the scriptures) have a more powerful effect upon people than ANYTHING ELSE...that's power. We were able to talk about some scriptures that meant something special to us...so I stood up and said Mosiah 4:9 & 10....those are the ones I read at 15 years old during Youth Conference...I knew that the BoM was true and that I was living these standards that the YW teach me...for a reason not just because they are good guidelines. That is the point where I rededicated my life to doing and thinking with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ at the front of my mind. I'm not perfect AT ALL but because of the witness that came from that scripture I know Christ has helped me to be a better person. Think about a scripture that has had an effect on your life and discuss it with each other...it's amazing what stories come from it. Things in our area are going well. We talked to President about it a little bit and we're praying about what we should do so our area doesn't suffer since we have the VC still. We're actually so busy that our heads are spinning. But I'd rather it be that way than the opposite...which I know is hard for some people in other areas that need a teaching pool. We are going to start teaching some kids ages 12 and 10 who are moving to Colorado to live with their mom for the summer...so I was like "UMM what part?" they said somewhere I didn't know but I was wondering if MAYBE Elder Shaw could teach them..hahah...that would be amazing. You know what IS amazing..and I can't believe I haven't talked about this sooner...but Amber Astle (remember her as a Sister missionary in NC!!! We traded spots..) came to the VC to visit me and say hi...but I wasn't there...so she left me a note...and I think she's at BYU....so if someone wants to facebook her or something and tell her I said hi back that would be great. (I don't know if I wrote about this already so excuse me if I did) I know I haven't been writing people back...but I am so thankful for your letters...and intend to write you back asap...it's funny because Prep Days are some of the busiest times of the week. Although you block out time to play sports with your district and stuff...which is a must for me...I love sports! It helps me to get my mind on something else for a while and not always worry about what we need to get done...which is what Pday is for. For all the college friends...I need your home addresses now that you're going home! So that would be great..you can email them to me...I just can't email you back. Also Amie (yes you get your own shout out) a lady came in the VC the other day and said that I sounded like Jackie from that's 70's show...crazy...I don't hear it but that's just me. (she kept wanting me to say Kelso's name and stuff it was weird...) She's only the 2nd person to think it...but I was astonished when she said that because I didn't think anyone else would ever think that. :P Well that about sums it up. I love you and miss you. I hope all is well. I'll get better about writing back to people..I know Sis. Gruni wants to write letters next week so we'll have a huge writing fest. :)
Love, Sis. Page
Sis. Silverwings
Sis. Mouse

Ps. An Elder (Elder Shingleton incase you ever meet him...ahha) from Wilmington is going home in a couple weeks (he's actually the AP) and I was talking to him about people saying "you don't sound like your from the south" he's like "yeah you'll get that your whole mission" So I'm prepared for it. I told him I've been telling people that "They beat it out of me at the MTC...you see I was in there for 9 weeks learning English instead of just 3..." haha then I laugh and tell them the truth. It's fun. :)

Gruni and General Conference

Okay here's the sign ;)....I LOVE MY NEW COMP! Sister Grunauer (Gruni) is her name and she's amazing. It's cool how differently you can love someone...and while I love Sis. Kohler...there's still a love for Sis. Grunauer in such a different way. She is from Austria (the same place they filmed the Sound of Music...so when you watch that...think of me!) and is the third to serve a mission out of 5 children. She's a lot of fun but very organized and goal minded. We plan everything...and me being a plan type person LOVES THAT! I know what I'm doing every time we go into a lesson and every time we aren't...hahah. She has many great tricks from being up north as a full proslyting missionary for 6 months...so it's really going to help Hurricane grow. (she's been out for a year...so there's no saying goodbye until October..ish) We are in the VC quite a bit more this transfer so it's hard to get out to our area or even make appointments while people are at work. We have been praying that our area will not suffer as long as we're obedient and serve as much as possible in the VC. GENERAL CONFERENCE! What an amazing blessing it is to have a Prophet and Apostles of the Lord speaking about what we really need to hear! They just KNEW! It was like they sat down and thought "now how can we help you Sis. Page??" and I told them and they answered. I really enjoyed Elder Holland, Oaks, Bednar, Teixiera and Perry's talks. And I loved the words of wisdom coming from Pres. Monson...that man is called of God and I don't know how any one can deny it. I was feeling frustrated with our VC sechedule and some other things but they talked alot about trials and afflictions...and it just hit me. I wrote down many thoughts on how certain talks applied to me. I am so excited for my book of GC talks Mom...that will be so cool to study them in an organized fashion. I can remember when I used to take things to "entertain" me during conference...like a book or coloring things...and how I didn't really pay attention...(which isn't bad when you're a kid) but I remember when I first started paying attention to General Conference was when Elder Bednar and Uchtdorf were called to be Apostles...that was when it clicked..how important these men are and then Elder Bednar spoke and he's been a favorite ever since...I just knew that what he was saying came from inspiration. I wish I had realized how awesome these men were while apostles like David B Haight and Neil A Maxwell were alive. I'm happy for Elder Anderson and recognize that he will rise to this calling...the Lord prepares His servants. In other news I was happy to get a letter from Sis. Shaw...letting me know how Elder Shaw is...and so I'm requesting to recieve both Elder's Shaw and Fischer emails and Elder Matthews as well if you have it...if you wouldn't mind forwarding them to me I'd appreciate it. :) It's so interesting to think that we grew up in the YM/YW together...and now we're on missions at the same time...some how I feel like could have been better friends...maybe when we get home. :) Things are going well here. I'm learning patience (aren't you happy Dad?? haha) and I'm gaining many friends.

Love you all!
Sister Page