Hallo! Guten tag! That's German for Hello and good day...so different isn't it! hahaha Why am I speaking German? Well probably that's because my companion is from GERMANY! I'm training Sister Schoppa (Shop-pa) and she's awesome! We haven't even been together a week but we are already great friends and I love her. She's ready to work and wants to learn to do everything on her own. She's going to be a great missionary. One of the first things she asked is "how long have you been on your mission?" And I had to tell her right away "this is my last transfer!" BOO. She's amazing and I have to leave. We are really having to build our area because we don't have a lot of investigators and the ones we do have aren't really progressing...it's pretty much the toughest area I've ever been in but with a great companion and a dose of faith we're doing just great. This means we're knocking a lot of doors and honestly that means a lot of really funny experiences. The more people you meet the more experiences you will have. We met a 94 year old man and he was a member but so nice. He wanted to give us something he had made...so he comes out with a BANANA HANGER! He works with wood and had like 20 of them. It was so funny. We were just walking around with a banana hanger in our hands. We're so proud of it.
We also talked to a Jewish guy. We were finding out if he was interested and he said "not really I'm happy with my faith" so we talked more and asked if his roommates would be interested and he said he didn't know. I didn't know what else to say so I said "well have a good day and umm...good luck with your "faith" " and as I said faith I pointed my fingers out like they were guns. Then we left but couldn't stop laughing. I couldn't believe I did that. But it made for a funny story.
On a more serious note...something I'm seeing in myself is that I'm not afraid to testify at doors. I have worked my whole mission trying to get to that point and I feel like I'm finally there. I'm finally in a place where no matter what they say I bring it back to the gospel and testify! It's been amazing to see the difference in knowing I did my part to invite them. We have a lot of follow up and such to do but at least we're keeping ourselves busy.
In the VC Sis. Schoppa is doing GREAT! She's made 3 phone calls and received 3 yes's so far. She's scared at times but she doesn't let that stop her. We've been having a great time and every shift she's on there's at least 1 person who speaks German and is a nonmember. WOOT. She was needed.
So many great memories made and many more to come.
I love you all! Ich liebe dich.
Liebe,
Sister Page
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
My Plan vs. Heavenly Father's Plan
TRANSFER CALLS....the verdict is in. Here's what I planned...(because we on slow nights at the VC have to keep ourselves occupied...so yes I guessed transfer calls) I had Sister Cluff staying in the area and training a new missionary. I had me going to another area called Bloomington and being with Sister Dunn. Well Saturday night Pres. Pitts calls (usually it's the APs) and I answer thinking I'll just hand the phone over to Sister Cluff to get her training call. But he didn't ask me to hand it over....instead he says "you'll be staying in the area Sister Page and the Lord has seen fit that you train again....you think you can do that?" I of course accepted the call but honestly I was shocked. Then Sister Cluff gets a call and she's going with Sister Dunn to Bloomington...I totally had it backward! Honestly, I am worried about the area and such....this past week was really hard number wise...and I'll admit I got discouraged. Sister Cluff was so awesome to keep my spirits up. I've tried to be positive all transfer but I broke. I did repent and will stay positive. So I'll go up to Provo tomorrow (tues) and then pick up my "greenie" on Wednesday. I just want to make this the best transfer ever with her. I want to be lost in the work. I want to have so much amazingness that I won't want to go home! I can't believe it's the beginning of my last transfer. I think training will help me reflect on my own mission. Many updates to come.
But LACEY is BAPTIZED! The whole service was amazing. I can't even describe. The spirit so strong and so much support. We were in the chapel. They sang a special musical number after the actual baptism (Lacey included...) they're all in a choir together and the song went soooo well. I saw a difference in Lacey's countenance. In the scriptures when it says "have ye received his image in your countenance?" I know what it looks like when people do! As she sang the song (called Open Thou Mine Eyes) I could see it. She was a "new creature" as the scriptures put it. And then her confirmation on Sunday was great too. I really believe she is one of the reasons I stayed on my mission. :)
We'll see what this new transfer has to bring. I'm trying to think of a transfer theme...or a good quote to keep in mind...so if you have any suggestions please email me.
Love, Sister Page
But LACEY is BAPTIZED! The whole service was amazing. I can't even describe. The spirit so strong and so much support. We were in the chapel. They sang a special musical number after the actual baptism (Lacey included...) they're all in a choir together and the song went soooo well. I saw a difference in Lacey's countenance. In the scriptures when it says "have ye received his image in your countenance?" I know what it looks like when people do! As she sang the song (called Open Thou Mine Eyes) I could see it. She was a "new creature" as the scriptures put it. And then her confirmation on Sunday was great too. I really believe she is one of the reasons I stayed on my mission. :)
We'll see what this new transfer has to bring. I'm trying to think of a transfer theme...or a good quote to keep in mind...so if you have any suggestions please email me.
Love, Sister Page
Monday, May 17, 2010
I CAN'T Only Imagine!
I wrote down a couple of things to write about so that I don't have to think so hard about what happened during the week. The days run together I'm telling you. And also I apologize if I repeat some information because I can't remember what I've written previous and don't have time to look.
Lacey Kirkland! She's 18 and getting baptized next Saturday. She is amazing. She has a friend on a mission and he referred her to a missionary at the MTC and they had a couple of conversations on the phone and she finally said it'd be okay for her to be taught by missionaries. So a senior couple contacts media referrals to see if they're really interested. Well they watched Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration and she was okay to meeting. She met with us but didn't want to meet at her house so we met at the VC a couple of times and then started meeting at her friends house (Lora who WAS less active but not anymore). So Sister Mosley and I taught her and she would read and pray and do and ask!!! It was the best! She was ready and willing to do anything to know God...like King Lamoni's father in Alma 22. We asked her to be baptized a couple of times but she really wanted to make sure it's something she could commit to the rest of her life. Therefore we gave her time to pray and think. As we taught she constantly had more and more friends from school wanting to be a part of the lessons and supporting her and Lora. One day she told us that May 22nd was the time she felt she'd be ready. Now she's so excited. She can see the change in herself. She can't even believe the difference in herself now and her attitude towards life and such from before. Sister Cluff and I are the missionaries but I feel like I've found my long lost friend. It doesn't help that she reminds me of Colie...all the time! haha When Lacey calls or I call we answer by saying "hi best friend" ahahah It's so funny...I don't even know how that started. I can't even imagine if I didn't serve a mission because of people like her. Or if I didn't STAY on my mission. We were talking about it the other day because we wanted her to think "how do you think the actions and choices you make today could effect other people?" Lacey said "well if I hadn't started meeting with you Lora wouldn't have gone back to church....and if you hadn't come on a mission I wouldn't be getting baptized." Man the spirit was strong. I love her. Family you should look her up on Facebook and tell her hi. haha
I finally finished the Book of Mormon all the way through on my mission so I've offically read it 2 and a half times. I wanted to take my time while on my mission and really study it, not just read it like I had before. It's amazing what you miss when you don't stop to think what you've been reading. I'm now reading the Miracle of Forgiveness per Ashleigh's request and I have to say it's a really good book. It just tells you "hey...that's a sin!" and you kind of feel like "oh..." and want to be better. The Lord's commandments really are black and white...there is no gray area. If you have a little bit of gray that's not pure...the Lord wants WHITE....not off white or anything else. The thing is we all fall short of achieving that whiteness by ourselves...we DO sin but we can become clean by Jesus Christ. It would be better if we didn't sin at all...but of course learning comes from it too. I'll update you on what I learn from it.
In other news transfers are announced on Saturday and Pres. Pitts has made if clear that all the sisters will be moving into their areas. We have been living in Temple Apartments across from the VC for ever and now he wants us to live with members in our areas. I think it will be good. But we'll see who's transferred.
Love you all, Sister Page
Lacey Kirkland! She's 18 and getting baptized next Saturday. She is amazing. She has a friend on a mission and he referred her to a missionary at the MTC and they had a couple of conversations on the phone and she finally said it'd be okay for her to be taught by missionaries. So a senior couple contacts media referrals to see if they're really interested. Well they watched Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration and she was okay to meeting. She met with us but didn't want to meet at her house so we met at the VC a couple of times and then started meeting at her friends house (Lora who WAS less active but not anymore). So Sister Mosley and I taught her and she would read and pray and do and ask!!! It was the best! She was ready and willing to do anything to know God...like King Lamoni's father in Alma 22. We asked her to be baptized a couple of times but she really wanted to make sure it's something she could commit to the rest of her life. Therefore we gave her time to pray and think. As we taught she constantly had more and more friends from school wanting to be a part of the lessons and supporting her and Lora. One day she told us that May 22nd was the time she felt she'd be ready. Now she's so excited. She can see the change in herself. She can't even believe the difference in herself now and her attitude towards life and such from before. Sister Cluff and I are the missionaries but I feel like I've found my long lost friend. It doesn't help that she reminds me of Colie...all the time! haha When Lacey calls or I call we answer by saying "hi best friend" ahahah It's so funny...I don't even know how that started. I can't even imagine if I didn't serve a mission because of people like her. Or if I didn't STAY on my mission. We were talking about it the other day because we wanted her to think "how do you think the actions and choices you make today could effect other people?" Lacey said "well if I hadn't started meeting with you Lora wouldn't have gone back to church....and if you hadn't come on a mission I wouldn't be getting baptized." Man the spirit was strong. I love her. Family you should look her up on Facebook and tell her hi. haha
I finally finished the Book of Mormon all the way through on my mission so I've offically read it 2 and a half times. I wanted to take my time while on my mission and really study it, not just read it like I had before. It's amazing what you miss when you don't stop to think what you've been reading. I'm now reading the Miracle of Forgiveness per Ashleigh's request and I have to say it's a really good book. It just tells you "hey...that's a sin!" and you kind of feel like "oh..." and want to be better. The Lord's commandments really are black and white...there is no gray area. If you have a little bit of gray that's not pure...the Lord wants WHITE....not off white or anything else. The thing is we all fall short of achieving that whiteness by ourselves...we DO sin but we can become clean by Jesus Christ. It would be better if we didn't sin at all...but of course learning comes from it too. I'll update you on what I learn from it.
In other news transfers are announced on Saturday and Pres. Pitts has made if clear that all the sisters will be moving into their areas. We have been living in Temple Apartments across from the VC for ever and now he wants us to live with members in our areas. I think it will be good. But we'll see who's transferred.
Love you all, Sister Page
Monday, May 10, 2010
Doing the Impossible!
Today was the best pday of my life. I did what I did not think was possible. I hiked up and up and up a mountain...I don't even know how many feet we were up but all I know is that I was SCARED OUT OF MY MIND! My district all went to Zion National Park and we had a blast. There was a part where it was a pretty big drop and you had to hold onto chains and I was like "I'm not going." and if you know me you know I HATE being the "party pooper" and that I didn't want to complain but I really didn't think I could psychologically do it . (I told my mom yesterday that I think I'm becoming more and more like her...that includes being afraid of heights!) So Sis. Cluff offered to stay with me while they went on the rest of the hike. They kept going and we stayed and then I was like let me just look and and see if it's as bad as I'm thinking...but I couldn't get very far I just couldn't do it. Then Elder Lanier (AP) and Elder Jensen (District Leader) came back like 5 mins later. I was like what's up...and they encouraged us. Elder Lanier said "you have two options come with us or climb down and wait for us down there...but it's REALLY not as bad as you think." I knew it was all psychological. So I determined to go because I wasn't going to waste my pday just waiting on people. So I started us out...and how did E. Lanier distract me?? With stories of Josh Carlson and him skateboarding on UNCC campus and getting caught by the cops every time. HAHAHAHAHA (he lived in Charlotte until he was 16) BUT it worked and I kept asking questions and not looking down. Well we kept going and going and going and we went over all of these boulders and such (I could do that all day...there was no cliff after the chain part). It was fun. Then we ate lunch and headed back...and I still needed some support and encouragement...but I was okay. I think the combination of the Elders helping me up and down things and Sis. Mosley just talking to me...helped a lot. I am doing things that I didn't think I could do....and then I realized...I've been doing things for almost a year and half that I didn't think I could do. I've been talking to random strangers about the gospel and helping them to change their lives. I was sitting on the tram taking us back to the main lodge of the park and I sat next to a woman named Sadie...she was at least 60 and so nice. I explained who we were and such, she was from Memphis Tennessee. I also invited her to the VC and talked about what she believed. It was cool. I don't think I could have done that a year ago. I'm determined to do this through out my whole life. :) I LOVE THIS GOSPEL. The whole time on the trail the Elders were relating the hike to the gospel and life. It really was applicable. I'm thankful that people have so much faith in me...and that the Lord has so much faith in me.
In other news we had a surprise baptism on Friday! It was amazing. Our investigator named Andrea (she's from Hungary and married a less active member) had a baptism date for May 22nd but her husband is a trucker and didn't think he'd get work off so they moved it up...we got everything ready in TWO days! It all came together and her confirmation was so good. It said that the Holy Ghost would lead her to the temple and that people on the other side are rejoicing at this decision because of all the temple work that will come from this one baptism. Pretty amazing.
Well I'm so thankful for my mom. I just have to say that. We had 25 minutes to talk and the rest was for the kids but I'm so happy that we did get to talk. I'm definitely happy if I turn out to be like her. She's one amazing woman and a strength to all. I had to give a talk yesterday on mothers and I told everyone at least 3 of the life lessons that she has taught me through out my life.
1. Bloom where you are planted
2. Don't settle for anything less than the temple.
3. Know the value of a dollar
This last one I applied temporally and spiritually...the spiritual part was knowing our self worth. I'm so thankful for a home I could come home to that was a haven from the world...after having the world beat on you all day at school and then coming home to the love and Spirit that resides there. I never noticed how beaten down at school I really was until now...and I'm happy I didn't realize because that would have made it harder...but I definitely felt the Spirit in our home. Thanks mom!
Love, Sister Page
In other news we had a surprise baptism on Friday! It was amazing. Our investigator named Andrea (she's from Hungary and married a less active member) had a baptism date for May 22nd but her husband is a trucker and didn't think he'd get work off so they moved it up...we got everything ready in TWO days! It all came together and her confirmation was so good. It said that the Holy Ghost would lead her to the temple and that people on the other side are rejoicing at this decision because of all the temple work that will come from this one baptism. Pretty amazing.
Well I'm so thankful for my mom. I just have to say that. We had 25 minutes to talk and the rest was for the kids but I'm so happy that we did get to talk. I'm definitely happy if I turn out to be like her. She's one amazing woman and a strength to all. I had to give a talk yesterday on mothers and I told everyone at least 3 of the life lessons that she has taught me through out my life.
1. Bloom where you are planted
2. Don't settle for anything less than the temple.
3. Know the value of a dollar
This last one I applied temporally and spiritually...the spiritual part was knowing our self worth. I'm so thankful for a home I could come home to that was a haven from the world...after having the world beat on you all day at school and then coming home to the love and Spirit that resides there. I never noticed how beaten down at school I really was until now...and I'm happy I didn't realize because that would have made it harder...but I definitely felt the Spirit in our home. Thanks mom!
Love, Sister Page
Monday, May 03, 2010
Thrice Blessed
As usual I've almost used up all of my time...AND SO MUCH HAPPENED THIS WEEK!
1. Stephanie Peterson (19) is someone I taught in Hurricane....HURRICANE...over a YEAR AGO! And now the Assistants to the President are in Hurricane and I told them to stop by Stephanie's (well I told everyone serving there to stop by!). She was supposed to get baptized last April and didn't feel ready. She wanted to wait until after summer but that didn't happen either. This girl was the first person I taught all the lessons through...I was one of her first missionaries. She is someone who was so close to the spirit and didn't even realize how much she recognized it. But she wouldn't get baptized! Well I told them to go over....they did and they put her on date for baptism on Saturday May 1st. Steph calls me and asked me to give the talk on the Holy Ghost...but there is a rule...it's not your area you can't go to the baptism. Well we asked anyways...it was important! We had the AP's on our side. So they call President and he said...YES! I was able to go to the baptism of a life time. I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost but it was such a blessing for ME....what a miracle I was able to witness. I love her and I'm so happy she took this step. During her confirmation I had the impression that she would go on a mission.....that would be so sweet. I'm sure we're going to keep in touch forever.
2. Fred Masters (68)...he was nervous. But he was so ready. The program went so well. His favorite hymn is "How Great Thou Art" so Sister Cluff and I sang it...I even sang a verse by myself! eek! I was nervous but it worked out. I was to happy that I was able to be a part of it. His confirmation was cool too. He has been an example to many.
3. ZONE CONFERENCE! Of course amazing. We talked about our purpose and why we're here. PERFECT to prepare me for next transfer. I am going to go STRONG until the end. As my dad would say "stay focused, work hard, love your companion". I will. We read 2Nephi 31 and picked it apart and applied it to our purpose. Pres. Pitts is amazing. I'll miss his "sermons" haha.
Love you all! Love, Sister Page
- Stephanie's baptism
- Fred's Baptism
- Zone Conference
1. Stephanie Peterson (19) is someone I taught in Hurricane....HURRICANE...over a YEAR AGO! And now the Assistants to the President are in Hurricane and I told them to stop by Stephanie's (well I told everyone serving there to stop by!). She was supposed to get baptized last April and didn't feel ready. She wanted to wait until after summer but that didn't happen either. This girl was the first person I taught all the lessons through...I was one of her first missionaries. She is someone who was so close to the spirit and didn't even realize how much she recognized it. But she wouldn't get baptized! Well I told them to go over....they did and they put her on date for baptism on Saturday May 1st. Steph calls me and asked me to give the talk on the Holy Ghost...but there is a rule...it's not your area you can't go to the baptism. Well we asked anyways...it was important! We had the AP's on our side. So they call President and he said...YES! I was able to go to the baptism of a life time. I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost but it was such a blessing for ME....what a miracle I was able to witness. I love her and I'm so happy she took this step. During her confirmation I had the impression that she would go on a mission.....that would be so sweet. I'm sure we're going to keep in touch forever.
2. Fred Masters (68)...he was nervous. But he was so ready. The program went so well. His favorite hymn is "How Great Thou Art" so Sister Cluff and I sang it...I even sang a verse by myself! eek! I was nervous but it worked out. I was to happy that I was able to be a part of it. His confirmation was cool too. He has been an example to many.
3. ZONE CONFERENCE! Of course amazing. We talked about our purpose and why we're here. PERFECT to prepare me for next transfer. I am going to go STRONG until the end. As my dad would say "stay focused, work hard, love your companion". I will. We read 2Nephi 31 and picked it apart and applied it to our purpose. Pres. Pitts is amazing. I'll miss his "sermons" haha.
Love you all! Love, Sister Page
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