I know this is going to be short so let me just apologize now. :) We went to the Timpanogas Caves today and we really have to hurry so we can shop and be on time to appointments.
We had Michael Wilson's baptism yesterday! It was described as spiritually uplifting yet the most hilarious baptism they've ever been to. It's Michael...that's how things go. He's 13 so and loves attention. So he gets into the water and you hear "oh gosh!" (I guess it was cold) and someone had told him that he needs to bend his knees so that it will be easier to go under the water...so he thought that meant to bend his knees the whole time!!!! HAHAH! So he's squatting in the water and his brother (who's baptizing him) just shakes his head and decides to say the prayer. Michael goes under the water and is fully immersed but then starts to extend his legs and floats over to the other side of the baptism faunt (he's at least 70 pounds heavier than his brother) and when he comes up he hits his head on the faucet! His first words after his baptism was "that was SCARY!" oh man it was funny...but the talks were so amazing. Sis. Harwood talked about the Holy Ghost and it's cool that when you talk about Him, He's even more near. Then Michael was confirmed by Chris, his friend who just became an elder. So that was his first experience with the Melchezedik Priesthood...it was a great confirmation. We're really excited for him. :)
Carlos who is a recent convert got the Aaronic Priesthood yesterday...and is really excited about it. The pictures they took for their wedding and baptism are on the internet now so if you go back a couple emails you can find the address...there's one that he took of me and Sister Harwood that I like...and one of me too...he really did good work on touching it up. I think you can order them too. Anyways search for Karen and Carlos' wedding. :) Give me feedback because I want to know if you went.
The people we live with are pretty amazing. I think I've talked about the Maloy's before. But I had them look up my parents on facebook. (I don't know how often you use it or anything but if you see Cory or Linda Maloy asking to be your friend...ACCEPT!) Anyways they will cook us dinner if someone cancels on us and really care about us. We appreciate it.
Well I love you all! You're amazing.
Love,
Sister Page
Monday, August 31, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Spiritual Individuality
There are many things I could write about. There is too much..I'll sum up.
I made a new study journal. Yes...I changed it like 5 times but I finally made one. It goes along with Preach My Gospel. Each chapter has it's own tab and I'm going through the whole thing and writing impressions and such as I go. Also, I have a section for questions people ask. (and I realized that am getting more questions to add faster than I can answer them...also having access to LDS.org would be helpful but it's cool to rely solely on the scriptures for answers) And another section for meetings. So it will be SWEET when I get back.
Speaking of meetings. We had zone conference last week. One of the 70 (Elder Nielson) came and talked. Also, we had a Q&A...so that was cool. The thing that hit me the most was how to recognize the spirit. Sometimes I think I just get so used to having the Spirit with me that I don't realize it's there. The 70's wife said "The spirit is like breathing...we don't notice we don't have it until it's gone." Plus we're blessed to know that if we are trying our hardest to keep our baptismal covenants we can have the spirit to be with us...we are promised that every time we take the sacrament...we we should never just think that we don't have it when we're worthy of it. :) It was awesome. I also got to see my good friends...Sister Burningham. We're pretty certain that Sister Harwood will be going back to St. George next transfer so we're planning on Sis. Burningham to come up to Lehi....okay it's just plans but it could happen.
Also, I'll be sad to have Sis. Harwood leave...we went on exchanges this week. So I went to American Fork for 24 hours with Sister Sommerfeldt. It was a good experience but I can see how Sis. Harwood and I have grown into knowing how we do things and things we want to progress in. It's just how things go when you're with one person 24/7 for 2 months straight. We have gotten to a comfortable level with each other and know how each other will respond to things. It's been really good and I love Sis. Harwood...we'll have a lot to do when we get home from the mission. :) But I did have a good experience going on exchanges for the first time in my mission. It's cool to see another area and how others do things so you can get ideas.
So the wind has been crazy here...I feel like my car door is going to rip off everytime I get out of the car...I'm not used to that. It's been interesting..but it gives us something to talk to people about. We talked to these two boys at the door yesterday about EFY and I was like "oh so that means you have the new EFY cd..." they were like "well we have 4 of them...you can have mine.." so he runs inside to get it...and voila...we have the 2009 EFY cd....how awesome. :)
Yesterday there was a temple dedicated. The Oquirrh Mtn Utah Temple. It was cool. It's my 2nd temple dedication since my mission...crazy awesome. There were a lot of cool things said. One things said by Elder Bednar really stuck out to me. "Your spiritual individuality is the ONLY individuality that really matters" I feel like people (myself included) try to define themselves in an outward way but the thing is Heavenly Father knows us...and how different we all are...and I don't have to have certain kinds of clothes, hair cut, or any other "look" to show other how different I am. It's awesome. :) I love Elder Bednar.
I love missionary work.
I LOVE YOU! Love, Sister Page
I made a new study journal. Yes...I changed it like 5 times but I finally made one. It goes along with Preach My Gospel. Each chapter has it's own tab and I'm going through the whole thing and writing impressions and such as I go. Also, I have a section for questions people ask. (and I realized that am getting more questions to add faster than I can answer them...also having access to LDS.org would be helpful but it's cool to rely solely on the scriptures for answers) And another section for meetings. So it will be SWEET when I get back.
Speaking of meetings. We had zone conference last week. One of the 70 (Elder Nielson) came and talked. Also, we had a Q&A...so that was cool. The thing that hit me the most was how to recognize the spirit. Sometimes I think I just get so used to having the Spirit with me that I don't realize it's there. The 70's wife said "The spirit is like breathing...we don't notice we don't have it until it's gone." Plus we're blessed to know that if we are trying our hardest to keep our baptismal covenants we can have the spirit to be with us...we are promised that every time we take the sacrament...we we should never just think that we don't have it when we're worthy of it. :) It was awesome. I also got to see my good friends...Sister Burningham. We're pretty certain that Sister Harwood will be going back to St. George next transfer so we're planning on Sis. Burningham to come up to Lehi....okay it's just plans but it could happen.
Also, I'll be sad to have Sis. Harwood leave...we went on exchanges this week. So I went to American Fork for 24 hours with Sister Sommerfeldt. It was a good experience but I can see how Sis. Harwood and I have grown into knowing how we do things and things we want to progress in. It's just how things go when you're with one person 24/7 for 2 months straight. We have gotten to a comfortable level with each other and know how each other will respond to things. It's been really good and I love Sis. Harwood...we'll have a lot to do when we get home from the mission. :) But I did have a good experience going on exchanges for the first time in my mission. It's cool to see another area and how others do things so you can get ideas.
So the wind has been crazy here...I feel like my car door is going to rip off everytime I get out of the car...I'm not used to that. It's been interesting..but it gives us something to talk to people about. We talked to these two boys at the door yesterday about EFY and I was like "oh so that means you have the new EFY cd..." they were like "well we have 4 of them...you can have mine.." so he runs inside to get it...and voila...we have the 2009 EFY cd....how awesome. :)
Yesterday there was a temple dedicated. The Oquirrh Mtn Utah Temple. It was cool. It's my 2nd temple dedication since my mission...crazy awesome. There were a lot of cool things said. One things said by Elder Bednar really stuck out to me. "Your spiritual individuality is the ONLY individuality that really matters" I feel like people (myself included) try to define themselves in an outward way but the thing is Heavenly Father knows us...and how different we all are...and I don't have to have certain kinds of clothes, hair cut, or any other "look" to show other how different I am. It's awesome. :) I love Elder Bednar.
I love missionary work.
I LOVE YOU! Love, Sister Page
Monday, August 17, 2009
Four New Investigators
We had our zone kick off (about our zone plan of action on how we can improve this transfer) and it really gave us a kick in the pants! We needed to be rejuvinated and rededicate ourselves to the work. Sis. Harwood and I are praying more, planning more, and striving more. We're just doing it! Go and talk to people. Go and share the light of the gospel.
Because of this amazing Spirit of rejuvination...we found 4 new investigators!!!
Amber: I didn't actually meet her we had to go on splits for the first time since we've been here...besides the fact that we were sick. haha But I hear she said "give me anything to do and I'll do it.." Our ward mission leader is the way we found her.
Kiaya (Kiah): This sweet 13 year old girl who is living with her aunt and uncle for the school year. She's had a hard life and I think she knows the gospel could really be an answer for her. We taught her about how Heavenly Father loves her and she just cried. She felt it...we all did. It was very powerful. We're excited to help her understand the gospel more. SUCH HOPE!
Lindsey: She's 13 as well and had a mother who didn't make the best decisions so her dad now has custody of her. She was ready to be baptized but didn't realize that she needed the lessons first. She has great friends that support her and is already reading the Book of Mormon for her Virtue project. That's pretty awesome. BUT now she's grounded and her dad included missionary lessons and Young Women's in that...(he's not a memeber) it's supposed to be 2 weeks but that's forever in a missionary's mind. So we're thinking about working with her father to lesson the punishment.
Drea: well her name is Alexandria but she goes by many different names. Anyways she has been approached about the gospel many times because of her grandparents and has met with missionaries before but has decided to really study it. She's excited about everything. She reads alot so we have a lot in common (Sis. Harwood is an avid reader too)
Love you all! Love, Sister Page
Because of this amazing Spirit of rejuvination...we found 4 new investigators!!!
Amber: I didn't actually meet her we had to go on splits for the first time since we've been here...besides the fact that we were sick. haha But I hear she said "give me anything to do and I'll do it.." Our ward mission leader is the way we found her.
Kiaya (Kiah): This sweet 13 year old girl who is living with her aunt and uncle for the school year. She's had a hard life and I think she knows the gospel could really be an answer for her. We taught her about how Heavenly Father loves her and she just cried. She felt it...we all did. It was very powerful. We're excited to help her understand the gospel more. SUCH HOPE!
Lindsey: She's 13 as well and had a mother who didn't make the best decisions so her dad now has custody of her. She was ready to be baptized but didn't realize that she needed the lessons first. She has great friends that support her and is already reading the Book of Mormon for her Virtue project. That's pretty awesome. BUT now she's grounded and her dad included missionary lessons and Young Women's in that...(he's not a memeber) it's supposed to be 2 weeks but that's forever in a missionary's mind. So we're thinking about working with her father to lesson the punishment.
Drea: well her name is Alexandria but she goes by many different names. Anyways she has been approached about the gospel many times because of her grandparents and has met with missionaries before but has decided to really study it. She's excited about everything. She reads alot so we have a lot in common (Sis. Harwood is an avid reader too)
Love you all! Love, Sister Page
Monday, August 10, 2009
Short and To the Point
Okay so this week WAS transfer week but we didn't get transfered so it's smooth sailing right? Well not really. Our numbers were as bad as the beginning of last transfer...and I'm not sure why. We did baptize a lot of our investigators that were progressing so well so now we don't meet with them as often. So we are once again building up our teaching pool.
Michael update: He goes to church but skips out on sunday school. I don't know what to do for him because he believes it's true but doesn't really like/enjoy church. We're trying to help him before he gets baptized so he'll stay active afterwards.
Karen and Carlos: They are doing so great! Karen got a job so now they're both working and can have a steady income. The Lord is blessing them for taking this step in their life! :)
Chad: He's new. He has lived here all of his life but his grandparents don't really want religion but he was told he can decide for himself. So he was asking questions to his friend about the Atonement and his friend asked him to meet with us. So our first meeting was a Q and A. He asked about our personal conversion and other things. It was cool. He is really searching. I think he's ready. So we're teaching him tonight and hopefully the a couple more times this week. :) I'm so thankful for member missionary work.
Sorry this is so short. I ran out of time this week and I'm also starving and so is my comp. :)
I don't know what to say....this is the first time. I'll have a better report for you next week. Just know the work is going well. Keep my area in your prayers that it will build up more with more people who's hearts are open.
This gospel is true. It's the best! I love my Savior and I know He's watchful of me and everyone that I teach as well. I'm grateful for that knowledge.
Making the Pathway Bright,
Sister Page
Michael update: He goes to church but skips out on sunday school. I don't know what to do for him because he believes it's true but doesn't really like/enjoy church. We're trying to help him before he gets baptized so he'll stay active afterwards.
Karen and Carlos: They are doing so great! Karen got a job so now they're both working and can have a steady income. The Lord is blessing them for taking this step in their life! :)
Chad: He's new. He has lived here all of his life but his grandparents don't really want religion but he was told he can decide for himself. So he was asking questions to his friend about the Atonement and his friend asked him to meet with us. So our first meeting was a Q and A. He asked about our personal conversion and other things. It was cool. He is really searching. I think he's ready. So we're teaching him tonight and hopefully the a couple more times this week. :) I'm so thankful for member missionary work.
Sorry this is so short. I ran out of time this week and I'm also starving and so is my comp. :)
I don't know what to say....this is the first time. I'll have a better report for you next week. Just know the work is going well. Keep my area in your prayers that it will build up more with more people who's hearts are open.
This gospel is true. It's the best! I love my Savior and I know He's watchful of me and everyone that I teach as well. I'm grateful for that knowledge.
Making the Pathway Bright,
Sister Page
Monday, August 03, 2009
Miracles. Transfers. The Greatest Work.
The end of the transfer is tomorrow...and Sister Harwood and I....ARE STAYING TOGETHER! Thank goodness. It's like when I'm with a companion I don't know who else I'd rather be with anyways so I'd rather just stay with them. I knew our time wasn't up. We had things we were working on that probably could have fizzled out if we had changed companions and we really (or at least I) have things the she could really help me with in the long run. So we're happy and excited and have things we are looking forward to.
So story: You know Scott who is the recent convert that is really awesome? Well his younger brother Michael has been taking the lessons. He's 13 (see I don't remember if I told you all of this...oh well) but he's 13 and really funny and sometimes doesn't take things seriously but he really does seriously want to get BAPTIZED!!! WOOOOOOOT!! We have been making sure it's not just pressure and such...it's not...we really can feel his conviction and desire to get baptized. I love it. So that's the one thing to look forward to this transfer...among more things which we can't even expect.
Another story: Karen and Carlos....this last thursday were married and baptized on the same day. The ward was fantastic! They even got this photographer who is in their ward but is also one of Utah's top wedding photographers to take pictures for them.
Anyways it was amazing...the whole wedding and baptism was about working toward the temple in the next year. They even went to the Oquirrh Mountain open house the next day with some other members and they loved it. They are the best people I've met who knows what it means to endure and have faith. Great examples that I will want to stay in touch with the rest of my life. :) They made goals yesterday of what they will do to get to the temple in the next year. Yup I'm basically going to their sealing...hahaha.
We also had a cute 9 year old get baptized. He was so excited about the gospel and said he wanted to get baptized as soon as possible. He was such a smart kid too. The sad thing is we don't get to see him again because he lives with his mom in California...sad day. But I know great things will come to him. :) The best part is knowing that he understands the promises he's made by getting baptized.
So we ended up with 5 baptisms this transfer. One short of our goal, but pretty good considering how the transfer started. Miracles I tell you. They're amazing.
Now we just need some promising new investigators...that's the miracle we'll see next.
The work is great. We taught a class in church yesterday about the Spirit World...of course it turned into missionary work...I had heard people say "this is the greatest work in the world." and I while I believed them I don't know if I took it in until we were talking about the spirit world yesterday. If we don't enjoy sharing the gospel in this life...we're really not going to have a good time in the next...because that's what it's all about. This really IS the greatest work we can be doing. I love it. Missionary work has changed my life in so many ways, including the fact that my dad was changed by the gospel. I know that if he hadn't joined the church my life would be so different. I'm so thankful that he typed his conversion story for me and that I get to share it with people more accurately now....it was an amazing experience to be able to read it. The Spirit was very present as I read it...I couldn't put it down. Thanks Dad...I love you!
Love, Sister Page
So story: You know Scott who is the recent convert that is really awesome? Well his younger brother Michael has been taking the lessons. He's 13 (see I don't remember if I told you all of this...oh well) but he's 13 and really funny and sometimes doesn't take things seriously but he really does seriously want to get BAPTIZED!!! WOOOOOOOT!! We have been making sure it's not just pressure and such...it's not...we really can feel his conviction and desire to get baptized. I love it. So that's the one thing to look forward to this transfer...among more things which we can't even expect.
Another story: Karen and Carlos....this last thursday were married and baptized on the same day. The ward was fantastic! They even got this photographer who is in their ward but is also one of Utah's top wedding photographers to take pictures for them.
Anyways it was amazing...the whole wedding and baptism was about working toward the temple in the next year. They even went to the Oquirrh Mountain open house the next day with some other members and they loved it. They are the best people I've met who knows what it means to endure and have faith. Great examples that I will want to stay in touch with the rest of my life. :) They made goals yesterday of what they will do to get to the temple in the next year. Yup I'm basically going to their sealing...hahaha.
We also had a cute 9 year old get baptized. He was so excited about the gospel and said he wanted to get baptized as soon as possible. He was such a smart kid too. The sad thing is we don't get to see him again because he lives with his mom in California...sad day. But I know great things will come to him. :) The best part is knowing that he understands the promises he's made by getting baptized.
So we ended up with 5 baptisms this transfer. One short of our goal, but pretty good considering how the transfer started. Miracles I tell you. They're amazing.
Now we just need some promising new investigators...that's the miracle we'll see next.
The work is great. We taught a class in church yesterday about the Spirit World...of course it turned into missionary work...I had heard people say "this is the greatest work in the world." and I while I believed them I don't know if I took it in until we were talking about the spirit world yesterday. If we don't enjoy sharing the gospel in this life...we're really not going to have a good time in the next...because that's what it's all about. This really IS the greatest work we can be doing. I love it. Missionary work has changed my life in so many ways, including the fact that my dad was changed by the gospel. I know that if he hadn't joined the church my life would be so different. I'm so thankful that he typed his conversion story for me and that I get to share it with people more accurately now....it was an amazing experience to be able to read it. The Spirit was very present as I read it...I couldn't put it down. Thanks Dad...I love you!
Love, Sister Page
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