The UPM (Utah Provo Mission)

HEY! I feel so excited to be out in the mission field. I know I haven't been writing or keep in touch for a while...I wrote at letter at the mission presidents house but I'm not sure when that got sent. I am serving in St. George at the visitor's center and the other half of my time is spent in a town about 30 minutes away called Hurricane (you say it Hurrikin) and I'm loving every minute. My trainer is Sister Kohler and she's amazing. Mom..you would LOVE what she does with her journals! I'm totally copying her. We have gotten so close over this last week and sometimes have a hard time getting to sleep because we want to talk so much. Her family is just like mine...she's the 2nd of four kids which happen to be 3 girls and a boy! CRAZY...and we're all around the same age. We also have a lot of the same interests but enough differences to make it interesting. I have taught numerous lessons and met sooo many people in the last week even I (who am usually good with names) can't remember everyone's names. I like getting introduced to missionaries because they have a name tag! haha OH yeah..and my prep days are on Wednesday still...because we have so many sisters at the VC we can't have everyone have pday on Monday. It's so warm here I love it...dry...but warm. It's not green though and I miss that about NC..I guess I'll get used to it in time. There are so many things I want to tell you but can't think of them. We taught a boy named Robbie (11) and he's getting baptized on March 21st and is so ready!!! We also taught a 14 year old girl named Ashley and she is getting baptized next week so we had to put things in full gear. Because my companion wasn't in the area before I came we have to learn the ropes together they call that White Washing...and I think it's a blessing because then we get to know all of these people at the same time. We have been working with the Elders from that area to help the transition, they are both from Brazil...cool huh? There names are Elders Diz Diz and Nascimento. They rock! I'm thankful for all of the work they did. What happened was they got SOOO busy in Hurricane and LaVerkin they had to go on splits every night. So they split the area instead and gave us Hurricane (which was the busier of the two) and now they are trying to build up LaVerkin...needless to say...we are totally busy! I was able to come down here with all of my MTC roomies (except my companion who went to California) and we all live in a row of apartments so it's nice that we're that close and can share experiences. We have all grown in many ways and really can see that in each other. BTW the mission is SO much more amazing than the MTC can really prepare you for...haha...but I did love the MTC and appreciated my time there...I just know that I'm learning so much more out here. OH GUESS WHAT!!! We went to church for transfers to meet our trainers and talk to President Brown...well while I was waiting in the hall way for President Brown guess who walked by me??? D. Todd Christofferson!!! That's an APOSTLE! I was like "hi..." but he smiled and just walked by (he was going to a funeral I think) and I was like "I'm going to LIKE this mission!" I think those opportunities will be more frequent here...haha...I'll let you know if anything else awesome happends like that. I am sending my tape recorder today...it covers the last week so you'll be happy to hear it...I hope it's not boring. Also send any packages or mail to the mission office...they will forward it and it's easier than updating my address every transfer. : ) Here are some things I need (and I said this on the tape too but this will get to you faster): My tiny hymn book (the brown one...I think it's in Andrew's room) jeans...yes they're allowed on pdays...for activities and such...SEND THEM! CD's...who was I fooling not taking any cd's...Pres. Brown says follow the white handbook...therefore anything uplifting...I would like EFY, Kenneth Cope, Pray for Rain, Janice Kapp Perry I also need my dressy shoes they're in Ash and Arin's room on the hangy thing. We wear them for zone conference where we don't need to walk very often and we can wear them in the VC. NYLONS! Anytime you send a package get me some of these..they rip all the time...I still wear the ripped ones when you can't see the rip haha ..but yeah send those. : ) Some of my old journals would be nice...I think it would be good to look back on experiences I've had before my mission to be able to connect with others about things that are going on in there life..I don't need all of them just a couple. : ) So I have to go shopping today...I have skirts that are too short for the mission. I have enough that I'm okay for now..but two of the ones from CATO are too short for mission standards...I'll send them back some time and wear them after the mission because they ARE modest just not for my mission. :P It's all good...I don't mind having to shop..hehe. 

Well this is long! But I LOVE YOU! Keep up the awesome work...I'm glad to hear that BYD went so well...missionary work cannot be done with out the members...why I didn't realize that sooner is beyond me. You will be a blessing in their lives...thank you!!!

Love, Sister Page

Changes

This week has been very different. All of the people from my district left except three who are in the Vistor Center training with me. Our schedule changed so we have Prep-Day on friday this week...but not next friday because by then I'll be in the field!! WOOT! I'm excited. But I said goodbye to my first companion Sis. Mangum and all of our Elders. It was just different with out them at lunch, dinner, in class...we started out our missions together and were together for like 12 hours a day for three weeks...how could we NOT get close! It really was a great learning experience with all of them and I know we'll be great friends after the mission. We plan on staying in touch...I certainly hope so. The experience of saying goodbye to people I've known for only three weeks but still have so much love for has given me a glimpse of the people I'll be teaching and how my love for them will grown at maybe an even faster pace! I am learning to love everyone no matter who they are...if you have the Spirit with you, you can't help but love everyone. I gave my first "tour" last night (it was for volunteers from BYU...) but it was amazing what you can learn just from experience. We did it twice and the second time I could just feel the Holy Ghost bear witness to what I was saying and that I was teaching by the Spirit. My new teachers are great...both are sisters and bring such a unique personality to the class...but they both know what we need to hear and when we need to hear it. It would be awesome to work here after the mission...though I'm still partial to BYU-Idaho..and I make that known. Since starting Vistor Center training I'm in a threesome with Sis. Mix and Sis. Stafford...who were in my district before...they're awesome and have been a great transition into new things. Tomorrow we get to go to Temple Square and be paired up with some sister missionaries there and ACTUALLY teach...just to get a feel for vistor centers and such...THAT will be interesting...I wonder if I'll see anyone I know. Something I learned this week is that everything changes...and that's a good thing because if things didn't change we couldn't progress. I have faith that what ever happends it's all about the Lord and His timing...it's not about me and my wants! I love this work. Share our message with everyone...what a marvelous message it is! I love you! :)

Love, Sister Page

ps. Elder Shaw and I are TRYING to find a time to get a picture together but haven't worked it out yet...I'll send a copy of it home if I do! :)

Another Week...AMAZING

I can't believe I've been here for two weeks!!! So many things happen everyday it's hard to pick a couple things to talk about. I think this week I really just want to focus on the fact that I have felt the Savior's love so strong for me in just the last couple days. Last night we were singing I am a Child of God...and it just hit me since we've been teaching the plan of salvation this week...we really ARE children of God! He knows us and wants us to return to Him! The line "teach me all that I must do to live with Him someday.." why wouldn't we want to know EVERYTHING we could do to get back to Him...He even sent His SON to come and suffer for me so I could get there...more than suffer know every thought and feeling so that He could know me better and help me in tough times. If it's THAT important to get back to Heavenly Father that Christ had to feel all that for me...I'm going to take advantage. I love both of them for that. I still love my companion and enjoy my district and other friends I have made. Things are going well. I'm happy I don't have to be here for more than 4 weeks though because they get you fired up so much to go out and actually teach people...that's what we really want to do...none of this pretending to teach investigators! I wish I could come back home just to spread the gospel with all the people that I was afraid to...if you know people who don't have this great message in their life SHARE IT! Preach My Gospel has so many awesome ways to help...anyways I probably should go! Thanks to all of you for your encouragement and amazing testimonies that help mine.

Love and many thanks, Sis. Page

First Week of My Mission, the MTC, and a New Life!

Hello!!!

There are so many things to talk about and not enough time. I wish I could just have a video camera with me and send you my days. The MTC is AMAZING! I have only been here for a week and I feel like I've grown spiritually in years. My schedule is very busy but at the end of the day I feel satisfied with what I've accomplished. I'm not a morning person but it hasn't been too hard to get up and get going...most of the time I don't even feel tired. Wednesdays are my Preparation days so that's when my emails will be coming...as you can see. I have learned how to effectively study and apply what I'm learning. It's not just about passively reading the Book of Mormon it's about finding words that stick out and looking them up, writing down impressions, and sharing what you learn. Everything is connected...I've learned lesson one in Preach My Gospel and everything just flows. God loves us...since He loves us He blesses families...He wants to let us know what to do to get back to Him...He reveals His gospel to His children through Prophets..old and in our day...He sent His Son to take upon Him our sins...and sealed that promise with His life....there has been a restoration..Joseph Smith really did see God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ and restored the fullness of the gospel...we have the Book of Mormon as a result of that! The best thing is that we can know ALL of this be ourselves...we don't need to rely on others we can pray to know if these things are true...and I know that they are. I'm so happy to be here. I would advise EVERYONE to read and study Preach My Gospel...if anyone has a question on how to use it...IT TELLS YOU! I never realized that and wished I took the time to look at it more before I came out here. Last night we had Elder Paul Johnson of the seventy come and speak. He spoke about agency. Our choices make such an impact on our lives and we can choose good consequences by making good choices. I love this place...but my desire to spread the gospel and let others know is what I can't wait for. Sorry if this letter is all over the place...but I didn't really know what to say...there's too much so I just summed up! I LOVE YOU!

Love, Sister Page

21...21...21

"Twenty one, Twenty one, only days left better get it done! Twenty one, Twenty one, Twenty one plus days get ready, I'm on!"

Okay so maybe making my own lyrics to High School Musical 3 isn't the most reverent way to be getting ready for my mission...but I keep thinking about the number 21. (and I saw HSM3 again last night) I will be turning 21 on January 16th and leaving on January 21st! CRAZY!!! I don't have much time left. I'm not sure of my exact assignment...like how long I'll be in the visitor's center or how long I'll be proselyting...but I'll do what ever they ask me. Am I nervous? of course...because so much is unknown until you are actually doing it. BUT I don't doubt that I can do it...I just have this reassuring feeling that Heavenly Father will be with me every step of the way.

So what have I been up to? I came home and went full speed ahead! I had two parties to go to the day I got back and gave a talk in Sacrament Meeting the next day. I started work that Monday...and have been torn in many different places but have been trying to spend most of my time with the family. Christmas was great! Arin was my secret santa and I was hers! haha We bought each other the Taylor Swift cd...but I like that I have my own copy. :P If you've been around me at all lately you'll know that I'm OBSESSED with it. I love it. I made a playlist on youtube to listen to before I got the cd so when I got it I knew the words and it made so awesome because now I don't have to be at a computer to listen to it. My sisters and Mom have been listening to it too. If you look at facebook you'll see that most of my recent status' are lyrics from that cd. I also got a new DIGITAL CAMERA! It's a Cannon...8 mp, video with audio, zoom, and more features than I even know right now. (ps. those features were all things my other camera couldn't do.) My parents got me that gift...plus a butt load of mission stuff! Arin also gave me this way cute quote note book...soooo if you have a favorite quote or three let me know and I'll put them in there...if I deem them as worthy. What was really awesome about Christmas was having the Sister Missionaries over. Well they come over quite often anyways for dinner and such but they were there for Christmas breakfast so that was fun! Having them around makes me even more excited...they give me advice and ask me to come on appointments with them. Though every time I go out with them the appointment falls through or the people aren't there. It's taught me a lot! I know that not every appointment is going to end in baptism and that maybe you have to work a little harder for people to hear the message!

Now I'm just working to get everything done by the time I leave. I've been shopping A LOT! It's fun to be able to spend money but it's hard to find somethings...but ladies if you're ever looking for good skirts that are longer...CATO! Best store I've been to yet. I don't even know what else I need to do...I mean I do, I just don't want to think about it. AHHH! I'll tell you what...I need to get used to early to bed, early to rise..probably not this week because of New Years...but ya know.

Anyways just wanted to give people an update. I'll probably have my mom put my emails up here while I'm on my mission. Love y'all! :)