Just Another Week in Paradise :)

Hola! The weeks have just been flying by and I am SOOOO not ready to return home. But sadly, time is an enemy and it waits for no man. And I must soon return home, despite my best tries to convince someone to kidnap me at the airport. I don't think that will be happening. But until then, MISSIONARY WORK!

This week has been SOO crazy. With the area just exploding and the work taking off, we have been incredibly busy. First some updates on people:

1. Paulina. Oh my dear Paulina. We had such a stellar lesson with her this week. ALL week long I had been freaking out about her being baptized this Saturday, thinking "is she really ready to make this commitment?" and "Is she really going to leave her church to join ours?" SO nervous. As we prepared the lesson, we decided to share Alma 32 with her, about the fruits of the church, and taking Alma's quiz if the gospel has: enlarged her soul, enlightened her understanding, and begins to be delicious. We go into the lesson, and the spirit was SOO strong. She bore such a powerful testimony of how the Book of Mormon and knowledge of the gospel has blessed her life. And then as we asked her about why she wants to be baptized she said, "I don't know everything about why I need to be baptized again, but I know that I need to be a part of this church, there is more I want to learn. I want to go to the temple." ahh isn't she amazing? Unfortunately, we are postponing the baptism due to immigration stuff that she is dealing with. But I am SO incredibly happy that she is confident in her decision and that sometime soon she'll be a member. Tears. I cried like a baby in that lesson. She is such a special lady!

2. I could not even TELL you how many hours I have spent in the hospital the past few months! All of our recent converts in this area have the worst health problems, you would not even believe! This week, we went and visited Sister L'herault, and not 50 minutes after our lesson we get a call from her that she's in the emergency room, and has an infection in her toe. So we brought the elders over to give her a blessing, And then the next day she was still in there and pretty down. We decided to bring her dog along to visit her (the nurses gave permission) Oh she was so elated! haha people and their dogs. Minnesota is famous for it. She's still in the hospital, trying to fight of the infection, but it has certainly been an adventure! I'm just glad that Sister Sperry is studying to become a nurse, she understands all the medical terms that they use and then has to translate it for me :)

3. So to top it off that I need to prepare to go home, Bishop's daughter Ellen just returned home from her mission. Her homecoming was this week, and we got to go to the bishop's youth discussion at his house as she shared stories from her mission. So surreal. I'm totally not ready for IT! But it's been fun to take her teaching with us, and learn a little bit about her experiences in the Philippians. She even cooked us some really good Filipino food!

4. Speaking of food. So I don't usually share much about the weird food that we eat. But this week was beyond crazy in the variety of everything! We had SO much Asian food, it was insane. From lettuce wraps, to spicy green bean salad. Our poor stomachs have been stretched to their capacity. One thing I LOVE about Minnesota is all the variety of people! We got some Laotian food, some Micronesian food, some Chinese food, and of course African food :) I could not even pronounce most of the stuff we ate. and sometimes we didn't even want to know what was in it. It was heaven sent when we had a dinner with a member and they fed us some chili. haha good ol merica!

5. And then a story to end all stories. Last night it snowed over 6 inches. I joke you not. We were driving home from bishop's, and it was quite a treacherous journey. We decided not to test our luck, and just drive home and we can walk from there. We took a picture at 8:00 when we started our journey. And then at 9:00. we were COVERED. We tried to visit with a less active, but he wasn't home. So we knocked around on some of his neighbors' doors. One Chinese man answered the door and said, "woah. what you guys doing?" We literally almost peed our pants laughing. I'm sure we were quite a sight. But God's work be done, in whatever weather!

We saw tons of miracles this week! as we have been trying to work in unity with our ward council better ( our ward mission leader moved about a month ago, and we haven't gotten a new one yet) we got to take a lot of the leaders out teaching with us! One of the coolest appointments that we had was when we took a lady from the primary presidency out with us. She set up an appointment with a part member family that she is friends with. And we got to go over there and share a message with them. We talked about scouting and participating in the activities and the boys were SO excited! And at the end we talked about meeting with them a few times a month and getting to read scriptures with them. The family loved the visit and were stoked about us coming back! God is so good.

Funny story: It was actually really warm this week (we've been biking!) and the kids are on spring break. So we had a lesson outside with the part member Micronesian family that we have been working with, and their neighbors who are also a part member family. ANYWAYS, as we had the lesson outside, this little Asian boy about 4 years old started running around with a stick shouting "I am booty warrior!" and he comes up to us and explains that his super power is that he runs around and pokes people in the butt with this stick. We were dying laughing. It was outta control, but so funny. At the very end of the lesson he gave me the stick, and said I can be the next booty warrior. haha I politely declined, and said I prefer just being a missionary.

It has been such a fantastic last few months. I love being a missionary so much. God has been so good to me, and I have been so blessed to participate in the journey of God's children coming closer to him. I am so incredibly blessed. And I love the people of Minnesota. This is the best place ever, and I will never forget the lives that have made such a big impact on me!

On the very first day of my mission, my mission president's wife read a scripture from Mosiah 18. and then she said, " This is how we read it here in Minnesota:

And now it came to pass that all this was done in Minnesota, yea, by the waters of Minnesota, in the forest that was near the waters of Minnesota; yea the place of Minnesota, the waters of Minnesota, the forest of Minnesota, how beautiful are they to the eyes of them that came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall sing to his praise forever.”

So true. I will never forget my time here in Minnesota. It has been beyond incredible. And rewarding. I will forever praise the Lord forever for trusting me enough to serve him, and teach my brother's and sisters.

Ahh there is just tooo much to share in just one email. Sorry I haven't been updating much on our adventures. I was hoping if I didn't write much I could pretend that time wasn't passing by so quickly and I wouldn't ever have to leave. Since that didn't work out so well..... here is my essay for the past week. Hope you enjoyed it!

Love, Sister Sidney Terry

March 22, 2015 8:00 pm

March 22, 2015 9:00 pm

March 22, 2015 Their poor car covered in snow

Taking a doggie for a visit

so true (according to Sister Terry)

March 15, 2015

Mother,

Well hello! Another week is down.... and I have 9 more to go!! woot woot! I figure if I live in denial long enough it'll eventually become reality. :) We'll see how it goes!

Well start planning our spring break adventure! journey up to Camie? maybe shopping for clothes? or finding sister terry a job. cause she needs one. I got your last letter. I'm glad a still have a scholarship! miracles do happen! so I have to sign up April 2nd for classes? ahhh future. It's hurting my brain. haha

for p-day I am... writing my farewell letter to president and cleaning up and packing. hahaha I'm SOOO lame. Well I was going to go to the mall of america, but because of terrorists that probably won't happen. But we'll see. I live life on the edge.

Man, this ward is just toooo good. I love it so much. It'll be so sad to have to leave. The work is completely taking off. So far Paulina is on track to be baptized march 28th. She's a little nervous but has such a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon despite it all! She just needs to have the courage to do what God is asking her to do. So if she doesn't get baptized then it'll for sure be in April. But we have had some super stellar lessons with her! We had brother Brother Mkwapatira teaching with us, and talked about how he can baptize her, and he bore such a powerful testimony of how he made the decision to be baptized even though he was nervous. Incredible people. Both of them. People from Africa have the strongest faith ever.

Then we visited with a part member family where the mom, and oldest daughter are members, but the 2 kids ages 11 and 9 are not. They are Micronesian. Which aka is SUCH a cool place! We have a lot of Micronesians who live here, and they are some pretty awesome members. Anyway, we visited with them, and some things have happened in their life recently that caused them to be a lot more open about the gospel and want to participate it in. it was incredible. We talked about the plan of salvation and how we can overcome adversity and that our choices have eternal significance. And then we committed them to be baptized and prepare to go the temple. And then they all came to church! It really was sooooo cute. All the other Micronesian's in the church were SO happy to see them. Somehow all of them are related somehow in a very islander way. So they were STOKED for their cousins to be at church for the first time in years. and all of them volunteered to come teaching with us to them. AHH I love these people. Good things are happening here! I'm so sad that I won't be there for their baptism, but Sister Sperry is already ready to take over the area and party haaaaaaard.

oh, last p-day we taught the elders in our district how to tye-dye. haha it was hilarious. You better believe that I am the tye dye CHAMP! now all I need to do is find a pair of white overalls that I can tye dye :) and then I die in peace.

On Sunday it was my last president's fireside! where we go to the mission home and recent converts share their experience of meeting with missionaries and making the decision to be baptized. Oh wow. it's always amazing to hear such strong testimonies come from these members who joined just a few months ago. And they go through such difficulties. Like one lady joined the church in December with her husband. And then he died in January. And she is still valiantly pressing forward to the temple. It such a great reminder of how real this gospel is. It binds up our wounds, heals our hearts and sets our spirits free. And people feel it. I feel so incredibly lucky to have this opportunity to preach the gospel. I wish I had time to write to you every week of all the amazing miracles, or even just one or two I guess... but it's just so overwhelming to see God's hand in literally EVERYTHING we do. Something as small as making a phone call, offering some service, knocking on a door. God is so involved in all of it. I am so lucky to represent his son and make a difference in people's lives. These past 18 months have been such a blessing, and I could never thank my father in heaven enough for everything that I have gained and lost here. We are so lucky to have this gospel, so blessed with this knowledge and the relationships that we can have with God and Jesus Christ because we can know them, truly know them. Ahh too incredible.

Have a great week!

Love, Sister TERRY

Making hearts and eating toast with Sister Sperry

March 8, 2015

Hello MOMMY!
Things are going well. Daylight saving nearly killed me. haha meetings SO early. yikes! But things are great. The weather is warming up and the work is taking off. Ahh I love being a missionary. it's so good.
Sounds like you are keeping busy, better do it all now because in April we will play :) yay! haha and go shopping. and craft. it'll be some good stuff.
Good job on having the missionaries over for dinner. I'm excited to go out teaching with them. It'll be weird to just be a joint teacher, but how exciting that we can continue to share the gospel even when we don't have a badge. :)
sorry this letter is so short. I'm so lame. haha but one day I'll share all my exciting adventures with you!
That's weird that President Forbes wrote you....ahh I can't imagine what he said, but I'm glad that it was good stuff.
I got my "death papers" this week. and I know they emailed you. so now you know that I have a plane ticket and what not. I'll probably send some stuff home soon so I don't have to bring it with me on the plane :) and I'm selling my bike for $50 to one of the sisters in my district who needs one.


love, sister terry

March 2, 2015

M<3M,
HELLO! I can NOT believe that Riker is 18. I'm like 99% sure when i left that he was 12 years old and still watched Fairy odd parents. Now he's an adult and playing video games, and dating. Ahh I'm not ready for the real world.
That's so cool that you have almost made it to the end of the old testament. That is hard stuff to do! But I'm impressed. It's kinda sad to see this repeated pattern happen of God choosing prophets and them being rejected and killed. but then I realize that in the Book of Mormon they do the same thing. We just don't have all the records of all the prophets. but in 3 Nephi it talks about how often they stoned and rejected what the prophets had to say. Silly people. They just don't have the faith to act.
Things with Sister Sperry are good. She's awesome, and has a good sense of humor and likes to work hard. So we have lots of fun and had a lesson this week with a part member family that is living with a grandma that is HILARIOUS. she became a member less that 10 years ago, but she LOVES missionaries. And when we went over there she proceeded to tell us about how she was was constipated for 5 years one time. hahaha it was the best lesson I have EVER HAD. but then the part member family came to church! and they haven't been to church since I've been here. so that was a cool miracle.
Sister Sperry is not a runner. she has arthritis and can't run out in the cold. So we haven't been running really at all. :( but that's okay. I bought some weights and now I'll just get super buff and beat Jeff in a arm wrestling contest.
Gators are doing well! We are teaching a lot of Part member families, and we have an investigator named Paulina that is preparing to get baptized on the 28th. I'm SO excited for her. She's from Nigeria, and is a grandma. She's super smart too, just loves reading from the book of mormon. God is SO good, and we have a lot of work cut out for us!
Hey, is Once Upon a Time still good? SO many people here watch it. I guess I'll find out soon!
SEE you in a month. Stop telling my friends that I come home in April. I've been telling them I come home in June. And they don't believe me.
I love you!
Sister TERRY

February 23, 2015

Hello mummy!
I don't know what you are talking about that I am joking about extending. It's a real thing. I got to finish training my new companion! Surprise! I'm never coming home. Minnesota has adopted me into it's family. That tends to happen quite frequently actually. (She's teasing again, don't worry, she's coming home soon)
So my new companion is Sister Tristan Sperry. She's from Lehi, Utah, graduated in 2012. She likes to camp and play sports. and dance. K.
But anyway, she's the oldest of 3, has 2 brothers. is going to UVU to do nursing. Her dad died last April from cancer so it's really cool to see how strong of a testimony that she has about the plan of salvation. She's a hard worker and loves God, so it'll be really cool to see all the amazing things that will happen in this area in the next 6 weeks!
Sorry I haven't been writing very long of letters. I need to write to you first. by the time I get to you I'm just exhausted from typing and don't have much more to say. haha
But this Sunday was OH so good. We had ward conference. And I am CONVINCED that God places the best of the best stake presidents here in Minnesota. And Pres. Naatjes is no exception. It was so incredible to hear from him, and the way that he can encourage, and support and well as exhort and invite people to change. And it was all focused on the book of mormon. Completely incredible. I love it. I learn so much from these great leaders that are here.
OH! and I finally memorized The living Christ! haha it took me FOREVER, but it finally happened.
Also, some quotes from what I've been studying this week.
"Too many are giving up on the church because they are tired of constantly feeling like they are falling short. They have tried in the past, but they always feel like they are not good enough. They don't understand grace."
"Grace is not the absence of God's high expectation. Grace is the presence of God's power."
"If the foundation of faith is not embedded in our hearts, our capacity to endure will crumble."

Things are going well in Burnsville! as always, the work is on fire! There is so much to do and so little time, but we are trying to be like the Savior and reach out to the one and lift them higher and hopefully I can do what God needs me to in the short amount of time that I have left (6months :)) but I am SO thankful for the opportunity to serve. I am grateful for the chance to impact the lives of my brothers and sisters, and even more for them to impact me. I have been blessed beyond what I deserve to be sent here to such incredible people, to bear Christ's name and represent Him. I feel so honored and blessed.
Love, Sister TERRY

February 16, 2015

Things have been going really well! I hope you are having a great president's day! I have to go soon, so this is a poopy letter. sorry.
Today is transfers. I'm staying in Burnsville and training again so I'll get a new companion on Wednesday.
Sorry I have to go! things are great, I love being a missionary, work on finding a black baby for me, k?! thanks!
This is a pic of the bag I crocheted for sister Neville. 

have a great week! 

love, sister terry

Actually, funny story really quick.
We are working with this Sudanese family that is less active. and we were talking with the kids. They have a daughter who is 12 and a son who is 7 and then a 3 year old. So we ask the girl where her Book of Mormon Stories book is. and her 7 year old brother says that it's in her closet and I ask him how he knows that and he was like, "oh I was sitting in her closet earlier today. and I was like, "why" and he just goes, "well, I was bored!" It was hilarious. but now I'm 99% certain that will be me. I'm not going to have any social after the mish but I'll just sit in your closet and read until you come home :)
I love you!  (Funny thing is that she doesn't know she will be working at a track meet the first two days she is home!  hee hee)

Sisters Terry and Neville

the Mkwaptira's baby boy

Yep, she knitted a tie!

At first I thought the Elder was proposing.  Now I see that it's all Sidney's fault.

Burnsville District

February 9, 2015

MOM.

I am so jealous of your 60 degree days! ahh life is so cold in Minnesota! But on the bright side I shaved my legs the other.... month. So they aren't so hairy anymore.

hmm the food I eat. Well actually there was a guy we talked to the other day. and he was a nutrition major. he told us that the healthiest way to eat is to fast in the morning and eat a big meal at about 3:00. no joke. it's called interminute fasting or something (she means intermittent). Look it up. But I don't do that. I just eat a banana in the morning. or cheerios. and then I eat pb&honey for lunch. or a quesadilla. or potatoes. I eat a lot of potatoes and rice. mostly a lot of rice. it's a staple for Minnesotans and Africans. and sister Neville likes eggs so we eat some of that. and some wraps. or yogurt with granola. I dunno. I just eat food.

Sounds like you've had a good week! I totally know what you mean about agency though. Sometimes I just want to shake these less active people. There are so many people who stopped coming to church just because someone said something mean and they got offended. Sorry, I didn't realize that you joined this church because it was fun. haha these crazy goons. Sometimes we forget the real purpose of things .that we are trying to come closer to our savior and receive his grace. I feel like that's one of the things I focus on a lot when we teach the plan of salvation. God gave us this great gift of being able to choose. And he expects us to. He doesn't want us to be slothful, or be compelled to do everything. We have to make that choice ourselves. And we show our love to God by the choices that we make. Ahh clearly that's a passionate subject for me.

But sites in b-ville! uh... apartments? haha there isn't many sites. in general Minnesota is SO pretty. just so many trees and it's so green! there's a sledding hill somewhere in Burnsville but since we aren't allowed to sled I don't even know where it is. most of the pretty sites and fun adventures are "up north" no joke. Everyone travels up north to do anything. Except maybe ice fish. you can do that anywhere. they aren't joking about the 10000 lakes.

p-day. I like to nap. no. I don't ever do that. right now I'm doing a lot of crocheting or knitting on p-days. or we spend time with the zone. we hang out as a zone a lot. like pretty frequently. So we usually play volleyball. or whatever I tell the zone leaders that I want to do.

um, so I want a baby to be at the airport when I get home. so I can hold him/her.
the Mkwapatira's had their baby on Sunday. we got to go and visit them. AHH too cute. a black baby. my favorite. can you make that happen for me? and I want everyone to wear a doo-rag

I love YOU!

sorry my letters have been lame. I'll talk to you in... a few months (I'm extending my mission for 6 months:) )

love, Sister TERRY

February 1, 2015

Dearest Mom,

How did the superbowl go? I didn't ever realize that it was yesterday until we started knocking on doors and everyone was drunk and busy. haha how lame.

um, so we don't really have much time to email but things are going well! I love being in Burnsville and we are seeing so many incredible miracles everyday! God is So good.

So one of the elders in our ward had to give a talk last week (did I tell you I gave a talk a few weeks ago? haha I still get SO nervous being up there and start shaking so bad. how embarrassing. obviously I am an introvert.)

But anyway, he gave a talk and shared a really cool poem. so I'm going to use the remaining time of emailing to write out this poem to you:


The alarm rings at 6:30, I stumble to my feet
I grab my companion’s bedding and pull off his sheet.
A groan fills the room, "Is it already time to arise?"
It seems like just a second ago I was able to shut my eyes

The morning activities follow - study, prayer, and such
When it's time to leave the apartment you feel you haven't accomplished much.
"We have a super day planned" my comp says with a grin
I slowly utter a faithless breath, "yeah, if anyone lets us in."

With the word of God and my faithful Schwinn, we ride off in the street
prepared to face another day of humidity and heat.
It's 9:30 in the evening; the day is almost through;
my companion and I are riding home, not accomplishing what we thought to do

We ride up to the mailbox, hoping to receive a lot
only to look inside and hear my echo reverberate, "air box"
We got up to our apartment, the day is now complete
the only thing to show our work is a case of blistered feet.

It's past 10:30 pm, my companion is fast asleep,
Silence engulfs me all about and I begin to weep
in the midst of sadness I kneel down to pray;
I need to talk to Father, but I'm not sure what to say.

"Oh Father," I begin "What happen to us today?
I thought we'd teach somebody, but everyone was away.
My hands, my aching hands, worn, hurt and beat
If our area was any smaller, we'd have knocked every street

Why on missions are the days so much alike?
The only difference about today was the flat tire on my bike.
Will you send some cooler weather? The heat is killing me.
I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes; it's very hard to see

Why do I have to wear a helmet, isn't your protection enough?
people always laugh at me and call me stupid stuff.
Please send us investigators so I may give them what they lack;
I want to give them Books of Mormon; the weight of them hurts my back

And what about my family? They don't have much to say,
I'm sick of not hearing from home, day after day after day.
Oh Father, why am I here, am I just wasting time?
Sometimes I just want to go home, I'm sorry, but that's on my mind.

My companion, Heavenly Father, What are you giving me?
The way he rides his bicycle, I don't think he can see.
Now you have it, I can't go on; I don't know what to do.
That, my Father in Heaven is the prayer I have for you."

My prayer now finished I stand up, then jump right into bed.
I need my rest for tomorrow; we have another long day ahead.
Sleep starts to overtake me, I seem to drift away
Then it seems a vision takes me to another time and another day

I'm standing alone on the hill, the view is very nice.
A man walks towards me and says, "My name is Jesus Christ."
Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down to his feet.
"Arise" he states, "follow me to the shade, you and I need to speak"

My attention's toward the savior, total and complete.
He says, “Your mission is similar of what happened to me.
I understand how you feel, I know what you're going through;
In fact, it would be fair to say I've felt the same as you.”

“I even know how you felt when no one listened to you.
At times I felt not quite sure what else I could do.
I know you don't like to ride a bike, for you a car would be sweet;
Just remember the donkey I rode wasn't equipped with 21 speeds.”

“I understand you don't like sweating, in fact it's something you hate;
I remember when I sweat blood from every pore, oh the agony was great!
I see you don't like your companion- you'd rather have someone else.
I once had a companion named Judah who sold my life for wealth.”

“It's hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of you.
I remember when they put thorns on my head and called me King of the Jews.
So you feel burdened down by the weight of your pack.
I recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back.”

“Your hands hurt from tracting and knocking on doors all day.
I guess when they pounded nails into mine, I ached in a similar way
It's hard not to hear from home when your family's not there to see.
I lost communication on the cross and cried, "Father why hast thou forsaken me?"

“We have a lot in common, but there's a difference between us you see;
I endured to the end and finished my mission, so follow and do like me."
He embraced me with his arms, his light filled me with his love
With tears in my eyes I watched as he went back to the Father above.

I stood with awe and wonder when a beep rang in my head.
I listened and heard the alarm, then realized I was in my bed.
My companion let out a groan, "6:30 already, no way!"
I sat up and said, "Come on, I'll carry your scriptures today!"

No matter what we go through, when we feel we can't take any more,
Just stop and think about Jesus Christ, he's been there before.


And that's the end of the poem. I love you and I have a testimony of the restored gospel. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It is the power unto the salvation of the children of men. And I am so thankful for my savior and redeemer, and most especially the opportunity to represent him.

Love, Sister TERRY

January 26, 2015

Hello MOM!

Um, did you mean where do I go to email? since I don't think I have written you a letter for like, 5 months. I assume that is your question. Well for the most part we go to the library in Savage. it's off of McColl Dr and County Road 27 if you want to google map it. But last week we emailed in a member's home and I used an ipad. Which was the most miserable experience ever, and as Riker can attest the writing was not well done.

hmm well my deaf hispanic investigator did not last very long. she loved what she was learning, and loved our focus on the youth. But she's part of a huge deaf church that's catholic. The combination was just too appealing for her to try and investigate the church. But we did have a miraculous Sunday where 3 of the less active families that we have been working with came to church! It was so wonderful for them to be there. Then later on that night we got a call from one of the moms and she thanked us for helping her and her family come. She had missed taking the sacrament so much and was so glad that she could be there once again. I feel like lately I have been focusing so much on the social conversion and trying to help the people that we are working with feel comfortable around us and feel like they have friends but that phone call was a wonderful reminder of the thing that is most important. The Sacrament, and the doctrine of the church. I absolutely love all the ward members and people that I have met that are part of the church, but even more than that I know that this is Jesus Christ’s church and where I need to be.

Today's p-day involves hanging out with the zone, playing minute to win it games and some volleyball!! woot woot! I have been talking trash to the zone leaders all week long about how I'm going to win, so the competition is on! I'm pretty stoked to defeat everyone. hahaha

yes I got your package, thanks for the yarn! I made a bag for my companion out of the muliticolored one. I'll have to send you a picture. I think it looks just horrid. But she got a lot of compliments on it when she used it at church (to be realistic the compliments were made by really old ladies and you can't really trust their taste in style, nor their eye sight.) but then I'm making a scarf with the other one. I'll probably send it home for you. :)

Well, speaking of a Church tour, we actually took an investigator on my very first Church tour! It's just so weird cause in this area people are so hesitant about coming to church. Like it's going to be incredibly painful or something. So now we do bible studies at the church on Thursday evenings, and then on Saturday we did a church tour with our investigator Paulina. She LOVED it. it was so cool. she just kept talking about how she feels the spirit. And at the end as she was walking out she said, "I love this church, it is so beautiful" ahh and it's the true church too. so bonus.

Things have been going so great, and God is helping us so much with his work. I wish I had time to write about all the miracles that we have seen. it's just too great to even mention all of them! We got to go biking this week, which was wonderful! we helped a family move, and shared the restoration with TONS of people! yay!

Love you. see you soon. keep being awesome!



Love, Sister Terry

January 19, 2015

Hello mom! This email will be super short. Sorry.

But the gps did come, ask me if I figured out how to work it...... No. #technologyisnotmyfriend but I might just pray really hard for the Holy Ghost to enlighten my understanding of it.

I can't believe Brianne already came home, and gave her homecoming talk. Ahh time is my enemy. It's going by so quickly. Hmm as far as sending me stuff. NO! I already have tons of stuff. It's ridiculous. I think I'm good most likely. Just start saving your money so we can go shopping when I am home. Have you started job hunting for me yet? And when are Camie and Jeff moving back down to Utah county? Before I come home?

Sister Neville does not like to run, nor does she run. She's just a trooper and puts up with my crazy obsession and is willing to walk outside while I run back and forth across the street. Which is good because I challenged Elder Caskey to a race when we get home, and word on the street is that he's been training hard. Luckily it's been pretty warm lately, so we get to go out a few times a week. 

So we were teaching this lady the other day and in the background her grandchildren were watching Frozen, from the little bit that I saw it seems like a pretty good movie. However Demi Lovato's song at the end ruined the spiritual powerhouse we had going on. Well I guess I'll just have to "let it go" hahahaha I'm hilarious. 

Things are going really well, our teaching pool is expanding. We brought a mother and daughter to church this Sunday. The mom is from Mexico and she is deaf. But she can speak english and read lips. It's pretty incredible. I love meeting these people who have overcome such crazy adversity in their lives. So cool!
I love you a lot, and hope that you have a great week! See ya in 9 weeks!

Love, sister terry

January 12, 2015

MOMMMMMMMM!

Hello! Well this week, as always is a fun adventure! haha mission life is so great! I love it! Well poor Sister LaBlanc is still not taking her medication. So things have been hard for her, but there is not much that we can do for her right now.

um, yeah, the weather has been a wee bit dreadful. but that's okay. My 3 fleece lined tights I wear everyday keep me warm! in fact, sister Neville and I have a deal, if it is above 0 in the morning we go running outside. It's quite a sight! 3 layers of tights, 2 hoodies, a hat and then a scarf makeshift face mask. So good. I love it! haha being in Minnesota has definitely grown my affection and love for Utah weather. I will never complain about it being cold there ever again!

hmm well today. we aren't doing much. Sister Neville likes to take naps and write letters. So mostly I crochet. or knit. haha #hatsfordays Except I don't know any patterns, so it's another adventure!
Well........ I don't know what else to say. I'm going to start making a list of fun things I did this week. sorry. Oh! I went to the temple! that was good! I watched the first new video. I still haven't seen the most recent one. So one day I hope I can see it.

LOVE YOU!
sister TERRY

January 5, 2015

Oh my goodness, my week was CRAZY. Get this. Last Saturday we went to the baptism of Musa Monseray. We brought an investigator and her returning less active friend. Now during the half time show the missionaries showed the video "None Were With Them" right after that our returning less active stands up and proceeds to tell us all that Jesus Christ was not perfect. He had a perfect soul, but we can be just like him and he was just like us.

Pretty crazy right? We were a little alarmed and decided to teach her about Jesus Christ in the next lesson that we have. But then on Sunday right after the opening song she FREAKS out, stands up and walks out. So we follow her out and ask what's wrong and she keeps saying that this is not her church and that she has to leave. And as I try to pull her aside and talk to her she just looks at me all crazy and says, "I'm awake, I'm here and you don't recognize me." and I'm like "what do you mean?" and she repeats it. and I'm like, yeah I know you! and she goes, "don't you recognize who I am?" So keep in mind that I have a new trainee that is just following along behind me and I'm like holy crap this lady thinks that she is Jesus Christ. So she storms off and I'm sorting out the possibilities of what just caused that to happen: Possible possession, becoming schizophrenic, maybe personality disorder. like who knows. So we inform leaders and what not, and they say to keep reaching out and they will figure some stuff out.

On Monday a lady in relief society calls us saying that our friend called her pretending to be an Yvonne, and had a super dark voice. So we were wigged out and I called our friend and she was rambling about storming out of a bible study and walking home and seemed very mentally unstable. So we drove over there to visit and she proceeds to tell us how she became Jesus Christ the day before but now she had done something bad and God withdrew his spirit. It was nuts. But in between all the crazy talk she said that she stopped taking her bipolar medication. So we left because we had district meeting but she called twice while we were meeting with out district and we kept in contact.

The rest of the week were periods of visiting her regularly, her getting priesthood blessings, getting kicked out of her home, returning to her mom's place and just one second being normal the next second just completely irrational. Friday our ward mission leader called us at 5 in the morning to say that she's been calling him to try to get him to come pick her up from her parents because they are "the devil" Literally it has been the most chaotic week I have EVER seen on my mission. And my poor little companion had no idea what was even going on... ahh it was very frustrating. and exhausting. Especially the waking up at 5. But then she tried to kidnap her niece because she's Jesus and her parents are the devil. She got arrested and is now in the hospital getting the help she needs. So a happy ending, but an emotional rollercoaster of a week. In all of this I have learned how vast our baptismal covenant is of bearing one another's burdens. That that is what is expected of us, what we promised to heavenly father that we would do. And that's why he can trust us with his children, because he knows that we will love them and help them.

Side note- on new years eve I aroused myself at 11:58, tried to wake up my companion but nothing could disturb her slumber and took some pictures of me and her. Woot woot! ringing in the new year with style! I'll have to send you the pictures next week. :) also we did some zumba and played apples to apples with the sisters in the zone.

Good luck with school, play hard and probably work harder.

What I've been thinking a lot about lately is the power of perception and self talk. You know that quote, "whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right." and how true it is. That's the greatest part of faith, that as you believe in God and Jesus Christ you can expect that they will help you in your life. And as you are obedient to His commandments you know that you will receive blessings. So why not expect success? That's what I want to work on more, is expecting that miracles will happen, working my bum off till they do and in all things give thanks.

But also, my goal for this year is "to be captained by Christ, motivated by Christ, literally lighting motivational fires in others because I, myself, am on fire." and doing that by working hard and expecting success. Being a man of my word, honest in very action and deed, living spirit of the law and letter of the law. And subjecting the natural man. Starting with being healthy and not eating sugar as well as to work when I don't want to work and not ever stop going! Here's to 2015!

Love, Sister TERRY

Sidney, Musa, Sister Smith

December 22, 2014

Uh. surprise highlights of this week:
On Monday... we had zone p-day. played lots of volleyball (which my team won) and ultimate frisbee (which we won. haha I play to win) and what not. It's been really warm here lately. All the snow has melted and I don't even need 2 layers of tights!!

Tuesday. Got a call at 8:00 from mission president. Sister Jacklin got transferred to Anoka. I'm now training.
yeah. I'm totally not joking. It was a surprise. but things were going too well and mission life was just too easy so I knew something had to change soon. I'm now training again. her name is sister Neville. she is from California in a city that starts with a b and is 2 hours north of LA. (We are going to go with Bakersfield) I can't remember what it's called right now.

Wednesday: New mission meeting and Bloomington. Oh, and sister Jacklin's last gift to me was to get me sick. haha so I spent all last week on my death bed carrying around a box of tissues and what not because I am too prideful to stay at home.
and then some other days where we did boss missionary work and preached Christ crucified and where I tried to memorize the Living Christ but it has a lot of words so I'm only like 3 paragraphs in.

SATURDAY!! the Mkwapatira's got baptized!! HOLLA! it was so great! Antionette and Reo are a stellar couple! I love them so much and am extremely excited for them! It was a great baptism. Oh mom, you'll be pleased to know that I played the piano for it! I've actually been working on my piano skills and can play.... like 10 hymns. small small.

Decorating a fern for Christmas

Mkwapatiras Baptisms

December 15, 2014

Mom,

Well, in answer to your questions, We had a balmy 50 degrees the past few days. get this, -I'm not even wearing tights today! woot woot! What a gift from God. it's been splendid. It'll probably get freezing cold soon so I'll just enjoy the warmer weather while it lasts.

TEACHING!! AND FINDING! well due to.... unfortunate circumstances our finding time was cut a little short when Sister Jacklin fell ill. It was unfortunate really. But I did get to crochet a lot of stuff while watching the district. And make some fudge for our less active sisters.

Speaking of -funny story. So you know how I always make gravy in a glass pan? so I pulled out a glass pan intending on making fudge in it. So in goes the sugar and the evaporated milk, it's boiling (oh and this is Monday evening after nightly planning. so we have about 40 minutes or so before bed) and all of the sudden....! it EXPLODES!! Shards of glass when everywhere and the sugar liquid oozes all over our stove and oven. haha it was a hot mess. literally. I joke you not I had such adrenaline after that I laid in bed for 30 minutes just saying, "I'm really glad we didn't die Sister Jacklin." She as a good sport about it and helped me clean it up though. And then we made some delicious glass-free fudge. YUM!

Oh, but back to your question. Finding and teaching are AWESOME! This area is ON fire! so far I have met 2 Liberian families :) haha so great. But also Reo and Antoinette are getting baptized this Saturday!! We are so excited for them! and then I found out that 2 of my investigators from med lake are getting baptized the Saturday after that! God is truly hastening his work of salvation in this area! We are working hard on finding new people to teach, and helping them progress towards baptism. Lots of awesome potential and the spirit is just guiding us to really great people! it's awesome. Sister Jacklin is very in tune with the spirit so she just guides us to the street we need to be and I just show up and talk to people. I love it :)

uh, Christmas plans. not sure yet. Probably see a lot of miracles. Invite at least 10 people to be baptized. and maybe Skype my family. :) we will see.

Here's quote I like a lot

"It may be possible for each to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; It is hardly possible for him to think too deeply or too often about that of his neighbor. The load, or weight or burden of my neighbors glory should be laid on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken. It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible Gods and Goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may be one day a person which, if you saw now you would be strongly tempted to worship.... It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities; it is with awe and circumspection proper to them that we should conduct all our dealings with one another. All friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. But it is immortals who we joke with, work with, marry, snub, exploit-immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. Next to the blessed sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses." -C.S. Lewis

I love the beginning where it talks about the load being so heavy that only humility can carry it. If I have learned anything on my mission it is to be more humble! Which was probably necessary since I was SO prideful before! I love mission life. It has taught me how to be invested in the salvation of others. Not because I need crazy high numbers, but because I LOVE THESE people! they are fantastic. And I love you too.

love, Sister TERRY

December 8, 2014

This week was FANTASTIC!! Ahh God is too good. It's amazing.

We had a slew of miracles this week, but my favorite happened on Monday: We had been trying to get in contact with a recent convert named Yer Xong who had gotten baptized about a year ago and gone less active. No one had been able to get in contact with her for the past 6 months or so. We went by and talked to her non-member husband who told us Monday would be a good time to visit. So we contacted her fellowshipper, Sister Miller, as she was investigating and she agreed she would come. We got to the apartment building, (and I have worked in areas with lots of apartment buildings. They are wonderful, but a huge hindrance as it is sometimes difficult to get in. And it was definitely the case with this one since their telephone box was broken and sometimes you just have to wait till someone walks out and opens the door for you.) So we prayed that we would find a way to get into the apartment building, and we even got there about 15 minutes just so we would for sure be in there before Sister Wallace came. But it was to no avail. The door was locked and there was no sign of anyone coming. So then we sat and thought. And decided to go around to the back door. Which was still locked..... but, a little broken. So we whip out a credit card and I remember my hoodlum days in Brooklyn Park... And we broke in. haha #livinthethuglife. We'll say the spirit prompted us to do that.

Since we were there a little early we decided to stop by Sister Rojo, a less active who lives across the hall from Yer. We sat down with them to do a quick fhe and our joint teacher texted that she was here. We told that to the family and they were SO excited to see her, so the kids ran down the stairs to go get her. Of course, being kids they made a lot of noise and commotion which brought Yer and her adorable kids out the door. They were so excited to see Sister Wallace and everyone said a lot of hellos and introducing and finally we got them all to come in to sister Rojo's place. We shared a fhe with both families where we made them title of liberties for each family, they had to gather together and write down things that are important to them. The kids got So into it and would tie their title of liberties (tank tops) around their necks and pretend it was a cape. It was amazing to see how well it had come together. We got to know both of them a little better, and it invited the spirit into their lives and their family as well. It was AMAZING! and so fun. I'll have to send you a picture of it a little later.

Then, later on this week we were out finding and we felt prompted to go stop by this potential investigator. We knocked on her door, she was uber busy but we got her phone number and agreed to set up a time with her. As we were leaving we saw this lady out in the hall and I was like, "I got to talk to her." So as we walked past I tried to strike up a conversation (and you would think after 1 year of doing this I would be a pro) and all I could think of saying was... "I like your.....pants" (she was wearing basketball shorts.) But the cool part was she is from Liberia, and nearly cried when she said that. I miss my Liberian friends! She has been asking God to help her find a church, she wants to get baptized, and when we went back to share the restoration with her She started breaking down and crying during the first vision. The spirit was so powerful! It was awesome, she definitely is a prepared soul! So sister Terry's conversation skills:0 The spirit:654682 Pretty cool.

Then a funny story: We were, once again, trying to find a less active (this ward has like 20% activity rate. It's outrageous.) and as we stopped by her nephew answered the door. Oh my goodness the smell of marijuana in the room was crazy ridiculous. but he wanted to talk about the gospel so we talked to him for a little bit. He started talking about how demons are following him around and all this crazy satanic stuff, and then said that when he talked with his pastor about it his pastor said that they are following him because he can do great things but he needs to give his life over to God. And then he turned to us and said, "what does that even mean?" Without missing a beat I just go, "Well there are certain things that keep us from living the life that God wants for us and obtaining his blessings and protections. For example, when people smoke pot it prevents them from feeling the spirit in their life and feeling the love of God." He was a little caught off guard by my brashness but did invite us back because, "he would love to hear more about the Norman's, and what Norman's believe." haha I am never going to get sick of hearing that. Hilarious!

Ahh I just love being a missionary. It is too good. It's such a joy to spend time laboring on God's behalf for the salvation of his children! And oh how he loves his children! We got to watch the 1st presidency devotional last night (we have a couple, Antionette and Reo that watched it with us. They are getting baptized Dec 20th!!) And I was particularly touched as they repeatedly emphasized how humble Christ's birth was. He really was not looking for recognition, worship, praise or anything else. He came simply to be obedient to God's will, and I am ASTOUNDED at how selfless he was. He never cared how he looked to other people, or anything. Ahh one day I hope to be more like him.

My name is Sister Terry,

I break into locked apartment buildings,

I testify of the evils of smoking pot,

And I'm a Norman.

happy Holidays!

Love, Sister TERRY

December 1, 2014

Dearest Mommy,

Um so my new companion is... Sister Jacklin. First name Sister. last name Jacklin. hahah I'm hilarious. She's related to Cade, and TJ Jolley. Isn't that uber cool? She is from AF. her brother runs xc. so she knows Timo.   This is the Jacksons. Caroline. And her mom Corrine

This is my wml's family. They are SO cool! Joe Wright and Naomi Wright

She (Sis. Jacklin) has been out for 3 months. Literally Sister Tingey just barely finished training her. 

This is Sister Renee Nunally. She's crazy. And less active. But always gives us tootsie rolls. She calls me her little gypsy. It's ridiculous. But we're best friends.

This is Sister Henstrom. Bishop's wife. She's a saint. literally. She's SO AWESOME

We live in an Apartment.
This is autumn ridge. Where all the Africans live. We're going there someday. And I will teach you the African ways. But it's also really gross, sketchy and unsanitary.

This is Musu. She's really cool. less active.

We went over to the relief society president's for thanksgiving. (I don't remember her name.... haha) we ate a LOT of food. Did I tell you that I love pie? Pumpkin is my favorite. So I ate a lot of that. And mashed potatoes.

And of course, the Coopers. my favorite family ever! They are supposed to come to Utah next summer. So we'll see them. and take them to the TEMPLE! woot! 

This is grandma Massa, and Tennah. They are the best! Grandma only speaks Pelle, which is an African tribe language. And both of them are scheduled to get baptized in January! WOO!

The area.... Well it has a lot of potential. Literally. There is a couple that the sisters were working with. They now have a baptism date for Dec 20th. And we were spending a lot of time finding. Lots of new transfer miracles! Last transfer they only taught 1 or 2 people the restoration a week. But this week we taught 8 people!! WOO! so we are excited to find new people especially the Lord's elect. So for right now it was dead. But underground God has just been preparing a lot of people and we need to find them! There are a lot of people from east Africa. A lot of Muslims. Which are my favorite people to teach! So it's perfect! But it's a wonderful blend of apartments, modest housing, and rich people. So I like it a lot. I am very blessed to be here! 

This is Tylene. Hopefully she tagged me on facebook! Her daughter is the cutest biggest punk ever! One time, she was playing with my hair and scurried off for 2 seconds, came back and started putting globs of hair grease in my hair! I had to wash it 4 times before it all came out!

Sister Smith. My old companion

Sister Jacklin has been here for 41/2 months. So I lied. Sister Tingey did not just finish training her. She finished and then spent another transfer here.

Melia Gruber. She came home for thanksgiving. She goes to UVU and is supposed to call you to cook her a home cooked meal soon! :) thanks mom

This is Rose. And her sister Muna. Which is why I might have Ebola. Her sister just came from Liberia a few weeks ago. Cross your fingers!

Burnsville is South of Bloomington. Medicine Lake is north of Minneapolis. They are on opposite sides of the city. SO no. We didn't cover here. I've never been here before. Everything is very foreign and new. but that's okay! 

This is Ellen Nounea, and her mom, Martha. BEST FAMILY EVER! they are members, from Liberia. Super awesome though! Very stalwart!

Sorry this picture is so lame. Shaharrah couldn't stop crying so we didn't get a good one. But this is Shaharrah. She's getting baptized Dec 27th. I'm SO excited for her.

This is Brother Quaye. AKA Mufasa. He's my idol. I literally just recorded a meeting that we had with him, and he just speaks with crazy POWER! ahh, a quote from the last time I talked with him "You decided to subject yourself to discomfort and follow Jesus" See what I mean? 

And then sister Teuscher, and Fifi. haha on exchanges. Too good.

This is the family that we found last Saturday. We taught the dad a restoration lesson while he was out walking. And he asked us to pray that he can find food and start providing for his kids. 3 minutes after we prayed with him, a lady pulled over to him and handed him a bunch of frozen meats (I joke you not. I can't even make this stuff up. welcome to the hood)
He was SO anxious to come to church, and Everyone LOVED them! We taught them on Tuesday and they asked us how long before they can join our church. Ahh God is so awesome. I love it. 

This is Kammassah Quaye. She's pretty rad. Also, her home is infested with potential ebola. ( I like to live dangerously. and might have given ebola to the entire cities. oops.)

Well, I hope you enjoyed all the pictures! Information overload perhaps? haha but life is so very good in Burnsville! It's a frost -1 degrees and the only veggies I have eaten this week come from Salsa. But that's okay! haha Sister Jacklin is super rad. She likes to run, and is very chill. She's super down for everything, and I’m going to teach her how to crochet today! As stated before, not much work happening right now as far as gators, but there is SO much potential. And I love finding people to teach. So I'm anxious to get to work and start saving souls! Burnsville is a relatively tiny ward. It's activity rate is a meager 30% with even lower home and visiting teaching rate (I'm going to sneak that in here every week. I have truly become converted. Do your home and visiting teaching PEOPLE!) But the people are wonderful! So much diversity and everyone is so welcoming, especially in the frosty weather. I am no longer a sister Training leader. So that gives me opportunity to study good things and focus on my people! It's a great relief, haha I loved it while it was going on. But I do like being able to sleep and focus on my area too. It gives me a chance to focus on leading in a more subtle way and hopefully just being that missionary that everyone forgets about cause you don't even need to worry about them. President did tell me that next transfer I'll be training, so I'm anxious to build up the ward and practice my patience! Hopefully this time around things will be much better!

I love you lots and lots. hope you had a great Thanksgiving week. And that you have an enjoyable time during this Christmas holiday!

Love, Sister TERRY

November 23, 2014

Wow! Time has certainly been racing by, and other transfer has come and gone! Unfortunately though, I wasn't able to sneak by another transfer in Medicine Lake. The time has come for me to leave and go to Burnsville. It is so bitter sweet to say goodbye to all these wonderful people! I am so excited to meet the people in Burnsville and be in a new zone for the first time in a year. But I am SO SO sad to have to leave! I feel like in my life I never had a hard time saying goodbye in school, or even after college. But for some reason on my mission being transferred has been the hardest, most difficult thing in my life. I have come to love these people so much. And I certainly hope that I have made a difference in their life. But no matter what small change I might have caused for them I know that they have made a huge impact on my life. I have never met a more devoted people, humble and pure. They have taught me how to love, how to sacrifice and to keep our eyes on the temple no matter what.

In my studies this morning I came across this quote,

"You cannot develop respect for someone who does not utilize his talents to the best of his ability. This is one of the great problems in the mission field. No matter how good you are, in every mission there are young men who take their callings as missionaries altogether too lightly. For every act of indifference, for every degree of laziness, for every failure to live up to the highest capacity which is ours in the performance of our missionary duties there is a penalty. I cannot tell you what the penalty is, but I am conscious of the one great penalty. That penalty is that when you leave the mission field, you take with you the standard that is going to be yours all of your life. If any of you elders feel that you can rise above the standard you fix for yourselves while you are laboring in the mission field after you get home, I am sure you are in for a very, very sad disappointment. I have had the privilege of watching returned missionaries come home from the field for over fifty years, and I have yet to see the first case within my experience where a missionary ever did anything better than he did his missionary work. It is very popular though out the world to seek to get something for nothing. As far as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is concerned, or the Gospel of Jesus Christ, there is no room for such philosophy therein."

Even though it is so hard for me to say goodbye, I know that i will continue to grow in the gospel as I am moved to Burnsville. And that doing God's will is so much more important than doing my own. I feel like I am finally starting to figure out what missions are all about. And I certainly hope that I can do everything that God wants me to in the 3 short transfers that I have left.

But on to better and funner things!

We have an investigator named Musa that we are teaching, he is from Sierra Leon and he is AWESOME! He came to stake conference last week, and as we were talking to him about the holy ghost he was telling us about how it spoke to him during that conference that this is something of God and he needs to be a part of it. AHH! and he was Muslim when we found him! How cool to see such a huge change happen in his life in just a few short weeks. Him and his daughter will be baptized on Dec 20.

Then there is also Shaharrah, who is 13 and a friend of the coopers. She is doing so good and is set to be baptized in December! She is the cutest thing, and she cares about the gospel so much! We went through baptism interview questions with her this week and it was amazing how much she knew and how diligently she has studied so she can make this a part of her life!

also, on Saturday we were walking around trying to find people to teach and we saw this man Lester walking down the sidewalk. We talked to him for a little bit and asked him where he was going, which he replied, "nowhere, I just felt like I needed to go for a walk." we shared the message of the restoration with him and he was SO excited! he loved everything and then asked if he and his wife and 2 boys could come to church with us. and we told them we would get them a ride and give them a call. Later on that night we hadn't got him a ride yet, and he called us and was like, "Hey I really want to come to church, do you have a ride for me?" and that NEVER happens. but he came, and Everyone LOVED him, and just lit up when he talked with them. Ahh it was so good. This area has just exploded. When I first got here there was no one to work with and we were struggling to find people to teach, and this Sunday we got 7 people to church, we have 5 people working towards baptism in the next month and there is so much goodness going around. AHH i am so sad to be leaving. But I am so excited for Sister Smith and everything that is going for this area! It has been such a blessing to be here. I love seeing how much can change in such a short amount of time. And I have really found that attitude is everything. If you want to share the light of the gospel, you have to be shining yourself.

and of course, enjoy this picture of our crazy district. Hooligans. all of them.

Happy thanksgiving!!!

Love, Sister TERRY