Throwin' You Off

FAMILY and FRIENDS!
I know I know...I'm throwing you off with my irregular schedule...but I have Pday today because Sister Kohler has to PACK! At least I get to spend the last day with her...we're going to have a little partay tonight...that includes Kippers and crackers...which we eat and love so much...we even made up a song about them. :) I am STILL working on my tape...sorry...but it will be sent out NEXT pday which WILL be a wednesday. My new companion will be Sister Grunauer from Germany. That will be cool to have foreign companion, I'll let you know how it's going next week. Hey mom...I'll wink once if it's good and twice if it's bad okay. Like this ;) means good and ;;) means bad! hahahahahha I'm staying in Hurricane which I suspected because they weren't going to whitewash again after JUST doing it. We are the first sisters to ever be in the area so they're just getting used to us...it'd be bad to try and mix it up too much. We had most of our baptisms this week because this is the weekend that was the best for people's schedules and to get all of the lessons in as well. Some of them actually fell through because of family that couldn't come down and such so we're waiting a couple weeks. Next transfer is going to be full of baptisms if the Lord provides. He really has blessed this area and sometimes it feels that we can't give all of the attention to the area that we would like because we have to be in the VC sometimes but I know the Lord will provide...but I'm not saying it isn't stressful. AND next transfer my companion will be one of the Lead Trainers which are the head sisters of the VC...so she has more responsibility dealing with the VC which probably means less time in our area then I'm used to...I think we'll be okay. Maybe this will strengthen my testimony of the VC more...because let me tell you I looove to proselyte. I have a love for the VC but it's hard at times when you know there is work you could be doing in the area. I served in the Brigham Young Winter Home yesterday. I saw a salsa red Toyota Highlander and thought maybe for a second my family might be there ready for me to give them a tour...but I knew it wasn't them..and actually it made me think more of how much they'ed enjoy it! I enjoyed it...and I'm learning more about Brigham Young. I think I have a sold testimony of Joseph Smith as a prophet but haven't taken the time to gain testimonies of the Prophets following him. (besides present day ones) I watched a video about some of the early apostles falling away from the church it's called "if they harden not their hearts" and it shows how valiant Brigham Young was! What an example of someone who stands up for what they believe in! This is on the Church History dvd's that cost 6 dollars at the distribution center. It has Wilford Woodruff's conversion story on there as well "a search for the truth" which is my favorite one. We were able to watch "Zion's Camp" which helped me understand what it was because seriously people talk about it like I'm supposed to know and never explain it. These are a great resource...buy them. It's a three disc set for 6 bucks...soooo good. I bet you can look on the church website for it online. :) I have learned a lot from Sister Kohler and am excited to meet up with her after the mission (we're going to a Red Sox game together and many other things) and keep in touch while ON the mission. She's definitely a friend I want to keep. I will miss her. Things are crazy around transfer times...but exciting too. I love this mission and the fact that I am coming to know my Savior so much more simply by reading about Him...I'm reading the New Testiment and though some of the things take a little more study to understand the culture of the people and asking questions I love it...and grasp the best parts. Christ was such an amazing example and teacher. In the General Conference coming up I'm anxious to hear what the Prophet and Apostles say that Christ wants me to do. I was able to hear part of Pres. Monson's address at the YW fireside...and I was just thinking "he is saying what Christ would say..." Prophet's are amazing. I'm so thankful to live in a time where they are present! 
Love you all <--------------------------This------------------------------------> much!
Love, Sister Page/Silverwings

 ps. I got a "middle name" because the ward mission leader who gave Silverwings thought of another good name for me...so I'm Silverwings BurningRock. How often is it that people get TWO names. :) He said since Silverwings is the first one he gave me that should be my REAL one...but he wanted to let me know that of the other one. I'm glad because I really really like that name Silverwings.

Can My Fingers Type Fast Enough?

There are so many things to say and I don't know where to start.

First I wanted to tell you a cool story from yesterday. I was serving in the VC and we were about to get off shift but we were just waiting for the other sisters to take over. A group of about four people walk in and I stand up and take them. I asked what brought them here...and I don't remember what the girl said that I was talking to because I got distracted by the fact that DAVID ARCHULETA was standing right behind her. I decided to be composed and figured if they were coming in the VC they wanted some kind of spiritual experience. So I asked if they wanted to hear the Christus narration.. they asked if it's the same one as in Salt Lake...I said "yeah but I get something out of it every time I hear it.." they agreed and sat down. I told them that as they listen they should pick out a line from it that they found meaningful...and not the last line because everyone picks that...and so afterwards I talked about what line meant something to them. They all went down the line. David said he liked a part that says "walk in the meekness of my spirit and you shall have peace in me" then we started talking about the nail prints in his hands and feet and how he kept those. David (yeah we're on a first name basis) said "I was reading about the 3 nephites the other day about how they are immortal but don't have the full ressurection yet...so maybe those will go away on Christ during the ressurrection." We had a little discussion about it and I was thinking 'YES A CELEBRITY THAT READS THE Book Of Mormon!" He was so nice. So then Sis. Kohler comes up and asks their names. She turns to David and says "I recognize you from a picture she has" pointing to me. Yes I have a picture of him because Valerie my room room mate from BYU-I sent me one of him and her sister at a fireside. So I said.."let me explain..." hahaha and then told him that. Then that allowed everyone who'd been talking and giggling to come up and get pictures with him. I did NOT get a picture. I didn't have my camera...but I did get a hand shake...and he even asked if I wanted a picture but I think it was okay that I didn't...he didn't have a lot of time and I still have the memory (I wrote it in my journal) so it's okay. I have told so many people about it. Sis. Kohler was so impressed with how nice he was and talked about it more than I did. Sometimes I tell some of the sisters and they don't know who he is because he became famous while they were on his mission...or because they're from a different country! haha Sis. Kohler said to him before he left "keep being a good example...you're doing a great job." I think he needed that. :)

On to other things. We went to the Draper Temple Dedication. It's SO awesome. I am happy we got to go. I've been really excited for general conference so this kind of was a snack of the Prophet before that...just to hold me over. :) They talked a lot to the youth. I have always known the importance of the temple because people stress it a lot when I was in youth and my parents helping me understand. But if I knew then what I know now...I would stress so much how important it is! Keep yourself worthy to be able to go and recieve the blessings that are waiting for you. If I could say something to my 12-18 year old self...I would say "You don't know now...but the blessings of going to the temple are some of the most amazing things you will recieve. Going there isn't just about how pretty it is...or for getting married. It's about finding out who you are and what you need to do to prepare to meet God again. That's the purpose of this life..."this life is the time to prepare to meet God..."(Alma 34:32) and it's only through the temple that we can prepare. Make sure you don't place less importance on it for any reason. It is the house of the Lord." There's a movie we show in the VC called "Only a Stonecutter" and it's about the man who despite tribulations walks to Salt Lake (22 miles) every day to work on the temple, at the end of the movie they say "He wasn't just carving words...he was setting in stone what it was that motivated him to act...Holiness to the Lord." Shouldn't that be EVERYONE's motivation? Why do anything for any other cause? I love the temple and really enjoyed going with my district last week. :) We get to go once every transfer so I'm happy I will still be able to feel of that Spirit at least every 6 weeks.

Other news this week: Stephanie (one of our investigators..18 years old) is GETTING BAPTIZED!!! She's thinking April 24th would be perfect. We are so excited...because she's definitely one of our favorites. Last night we didn't really teach a lesson because she had questions about death. Her friend had just died in a car wreck and the funeral was that morning. We had told her about the plan of salvation but she was wondering if God had done this. We talked for a LONG time. By the end she felt better and we asked her if she'd like a blessing of comfort. She was hesitant saying "Maybe when I'm feeling better." Sis. Kohler told her that she'll feel better once she GETS a blessing...so she agreed. So we called doo doo doo dooo...(that's like the horn for the heros...hopefully you get it.) ELDER DIZ DIZ and NASIMENTO! :) We called and told them what the situation was. They had an appointment but said if it fell through they'd be there. So we talked some more...and I believe the Elder's appointment fell through by divine intervention. They came over and gave her a blessing. I knew she'd like it! She's always so in tune with the Spirit! She asked right after "how long do you have to wait to get another blessing??" and then she got their phone number so she could call when needed. haha Then her little sister (who is a member) said "how old do you have to be to get your patriarchal blessing?" and we were saying when ever you feel it's time. We explained to Stephanie what a Patriarchal Blessing was and that it's basically scrpiture for your life...for you...and you alone. She liked that idea...and asked "do you have to be baptized to get that..." and we said "yes." She says.."hmmm..yeah I'm going to have to do that." We were like YESSSSS! We had planned on asking her to pick a date that night and she basically did it for us. :) I mean if you know the power of the priesthood and have felt the spirit and believe that Joseph Smith restored Christ's church...why wouldn't you get baptized. I asked her what had held her back...she said. "myself." We still have some principles to teach her so she said she wants to learn more first...which I can understand but I told her let's set a date and prepare to have you ready by then...she said "how about a month from now?" So that's what we did. I'm so excited. I was able to give a talk on Sunday along with Sis. K. But some mom's who had missionaries out spoke too...and they read some of their missionaries letters...and I thought "I hope my letters are that good." haha I don't if I sound that diginified...but I'm okay with that. I'm just me and I have MY expereinces not someone elses. I really do love and miss everyone. Many hugs to all of you!

Love, Sister Page

Coming to an end?!?

Hello to all! Well my MISSION isn't coming to an end...but the transfer is in a couple weeks and that means my trainer Sis. Kohler is leaving. BOO! That's the end of that I won't talk about it the rest of the letter...after this paragraph. It keeps coming up in convos around the VC and in our area and on pdays. Ugh...I know I'll love all of my companions but will I love them as much as her?? I don't know...we'll see. I've been thinking a lot about the future and what it holds seeing all of the things my companion has gone through and her awesome stories. I'm exicted to have those experiences. (dare I say good and bad...yes..opposition in all things) I never realized WHY general authorities tell us to write in our journals until I came on a mission. It's not just for posterity...it's for US! We need to see how we grew...or didn't grow...how we can connect to different people with empathy instead of sympathy. I have a lot of experiences that maybe I wish I hadn't had because they hurt or were hard but I have a testimony that what I ever happends to us is to help us later on in life! We will meet people whether on a mission or not, that need that experience we had so they will know how to act and can seek advice from someone who's been there before. My journal I keep now is not the most detailed but it allows to me to look and remember. Even if I only have time to write an outline of the day I can still remember what was said and what important thing I need to remember. I've always been a journal writer but I think I did it because I truly enjoyed it...but I still have to refine how I do things and what are the most valuable to write in it. It allows me to see times I relied on my Savior more and than times when I didn't and the blessings from doing that. I also stick little things in it...like gum wrappers that belong to some really nasty gum that help me remember mine and Sis. Kohler's reaction to the nasty gum and there I've got a funny story. I love my journal and I definitly know why we are asked to keep one. Today...was pday (yeah you already know that...)...and I'm writing a little bit later than usual because were able to go to Zion National Park! It was cool. (I took my tape recorder too..more details to come when I send that off...when that will be I'm not sure..) We hiked a mountain (mom you would have died..teehee...)don't worry I tried not to think about the hieght at some of the parts too...I was like "I'm scared I'm going to fall..." and one of the Elders named Elder Sellers said "one step at a time..." and I don't know if he realized how much I appreciated that. It was encouraging and caring...I was still nervous but a little more confident. People really do try to act more like Christ when they're on a mission without even realizing it. We really do have a great district! We got some great pictures..it was so pretty. After this transfer I'm going to put MTC and Transfer 1 pics on a CD and send them home...woot! Oh and I wore my Boston Redsox hat on the trail..it was sweet and I looked really cute..haha. :) (yes..I have Boston hat...one of the Ward Mission Leaders gave it to me...it was so nice of him...we really appreciate these men! Also I made a Redsox blanket...I heart it so much!) Sister Kohler and I make sure to ask for a phrase in portuguese every time we're around our District leader and his comp...they're always teaching us stuff. It's fun...I like to learn how to say hello and such in different languages too. Heavenly Father really loves all of His children EVERYWHERE! I just know that when there's an article about another country in the Ensign or the New Era I'm going to pay more attention. You will meet people from all over and you wil find they are the same as you because you have the gospel in common and that's all that matters. I love talking to others from different countries and see how they live life and what they're culture is...I'd like to travel when I get older...as in after my mission...although I have an idea of how things are going to work out once I'm off my mission..haha but that's neither here nor there...it's good to plan though...that's what everyone always says..planning is the key. haha I really enjoy the VC...some days are slow but when that happends we get to know other missionaries and senior missionaries better. Anyone thinking about serving a couples mission..DO IT...we love them! Sis. Kohler wrote poems about all of the missionaries on duty the other day..it was pretty fun and cool to see..I'll recite some on my tape. I have yet to write one about her...we'll see how that goes..I'm usually better at prose..wow that rhymed! :) Something I've learned from Sister Kohler is figuring out everyones love language...everyone has a love language...and when she realized mine..it really helped me unlock some things about myself. It's good to look around and how people act and react to each other and know what means the most to them. My love language is "words of affirmation" so when someone just plain out tells me how they feel or what they think..I appreciate that MORE than gifts or acts of service.I was like YES THAT IS TOTALLY ME! So when people write me letters...that's like straight to my heart because I react best to words. So I thank ALL of you who have written me and made my day a little brighter. (I'm not begging for mail I promise...I just love it though!) Sis. Kohler is words of affirmation too so we work well together because we can just tell each other "I love how you do such and such.." and then we feel I guess validated. :) Or we'll be silent and Sis. Kohler will ask "how did I bare testimony to you today with my actions.." it helps her to hear what I think and realize things she doesn't notice on her own. I love good questions and good discussions...yes...I just love words. As you can tell since this email is like a billion miles long. The mission is great...I think we're going to have 10 baptisms...ish...we'll see...our goal was 12 but we feel if we set the goal at 10 we'd have 8...so we're doing good. I love you...miss you...and appreciate ALL YOU DO!

Love, Sister Page

An Amazing Day

This time last week was ZONE CONFERENCE! It was great...it was kind of funny because one of the 70 came and spoke to us...but it was the SAME 70 that spoke in the MTC...so I heard his conversion story twice which was okay with me. :) Then he gave us advice about how to find more people and teach more lessons. We're putting ourselves to a new standard. What's interesting is that we were in zone conference from 8:30am to 4:30pm and it didn't even feel that long! By the way I will never forget my first zone conference because I got sick...it was weird but yeah I got sick but after a while I felt better. I still took a lot from it. So an old Ward Mission Leader of Sister Kohler's (from her last area) called because he needed to know our address (we told him just to send stuff to the mission office)...but anyway he gives names to all missionaries he meets. Sister Kohler's name is Sister Firestorm. And he even prays about the names...and references them to the Book of Mormon..pretty cool right? Since Sister Kohler was driving I had to talk to him on the phone...and he was really nice and funny. I told him I wanted a name too..so I told him a little about myself and everything so he said he'd get back to me. He came to the conclusion that I was Silverwings. (3Nephi 10:3) I love it! :) This week I went to In-N-Out for the first time...and documented it by getting a sticker and saving my reciept! :) haha...The do have good burgers but I'm not to jazzed about their fries. I have to go back because I need to say I want it "animal style" which means they put sautee'd onions on it! WOOT! My favorite! Also I had my frist baptism this week...she was already getting the lessons from the elders so we didn't really teach her that many times but it was awesome to see Ashleigh (yeah that's her name AND how she spells it) want to do what's right and get excited about it. Okay HERE is the amazing day...and it actually happened in the Vistor's Center which I AM SO SORRY...I know I don't talk about that much but I do love it and really would love for everyone to come to St. George and take a tour...my favorite display is God's Plan for His Family. But what happened yesterday was during the morning shift and we were expecting it to be slow because it's a Tuesday morning...come on...but in walk 4 boys in their 20's from a bible school in Chicago. They wanted to just discuss doctrine and points of view. They also wanted to document the whole thing with video cameras and pictures...haha..which we didn't mind but kind of made me feel like a celebrity. :P They had some points of view that clashed with our but everyone was so respectful and asked good questions. We ended up talking to them for about 2 hours and helping them understand we are Christian and that we have the same organization that was set up BY Jesus Christ...it just makes sense! The authority that Jesus Christ gave to His apostles is on the earth again. We watched the story of Wilford Woodruff with an investigator yesterday and it just strengthened my testimony that we really do need the organization, ordinances, and authority in order to return to our Heavenly Father and His Son...Jesus Christ! I love this gospel and know it's true. It was great talking to those men...because it DID strengthen my testimony and allowed me to see that everything falls into place with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After we talked to them they wanted pictures with us...it was fun..I felt like we could have been good friends. It was a great experience and hope to have more like it.

Love all of you! ~Sister Silverwings

Already?

So...my Pday had to move to Monday just for this week because we have Zone Conference on Wednesday therefore we had to adjust! I'm excited for it but it also means this transfer is half way over. I can't believe it. The people in Hurricane are really blessed...the area is just great and we're teaching like mad women...only cheerfully. We have 7 people on date...and we're super excited for it. I hope that we can get this girl named Dreena (20's) on date...even if it's not in this transfer because I know she's ready she just needs a little more time. Also a girl we JUST started teaching named Stephanie (18)...she's amazing...we asked her if she'd consider baptism and she said she's not ready for that but we let her know that it's always an option and that she does NOT have to be invited...just ask. : ) I know she'll get baptized I just want it to be really soon. When we were teaching her the first lesson we gave her a copy of her very own Book of Mormon and she was so excited and ready to soak it up. I can't wait to see her tomorrow. It's really amazing the love you have for people when you put it in the perspective that they are children of God that Heaenly Father wants to see again. I was able to give tours in the Brigham Young Home on Sunday and that was fun to see it and actually get a behind the scenes. : ) We didn't GIVE a lot of tours but I went on a lot to get to know the history and how to do things and then started giving tours. I'm so thankful for the many rides people give me! I know that the Sisters and Elders in your area appreciate your help...in any way! I think that's it for this week...I love you! I'll write again...next Wednesday!

Love, Sister Page