April 27, 2014

Hello all! This week was SO fun, and super crazy. First off we saw SO many miracles this week! We've been working really hard at getting all of our investigators to church, and hard core committing them to get on the path to repentance and this week we had 7 of them come! WOO! It's crazy to think that when I first got in this area we were lucky if we got 1 investigator to church and teach 5 lessons a week and this week we got 36 lessons and 7 gators to church! It's been so much fun to see this area grow and help others realize the blessing that come as being part of Jesus Christ's church! And I found out that I get to stay here for at least another 6 weeks! WOO!

On Monday we had district P-day, where we did bbq and kickball (my idea, I miss all of the fun mutual activities we used to do!) it was tons of fun and we also played 4 square where I powned everyone :) but it was also great to get back to the work after. It's always so strange to put on civilian clothing and be able to do normal everyday stuff. I much prefer being a representative of Jesus Christ.

On Tuesday we woke up at 5:45 to go play volleyball with the women in the ward. Our president has been encouraging us to develop relationships with the members of our ward so they learn to trust us and also realize that we are people as well as missionaries. It was so much fun to play volleyball even though I was super rusty and even some non members came as well!

That night we had a lesson with our 17 year old investigator Brittany. She's super awesome and we had a great joint teacher and everything lined up so perfectly. That night she prayed about a date to be baptized and she and her little brother Marco are going to be baptized on May 31st! We are so stoked for them!

Wednesday we went to the TEMPLE!! woo!! I was so stoked! I love going to the temple so much, and I really do know that it is the lord's house. It's such a blessing to have a temple close enough that we are allowed to go. I feel such a spiritual uplifting every time we go. We also taught one of our investigators Olevia. She had not been super interested in the church before. But we had a really spiritual lesson with her a few weeks ago and since then she's been participating a lot more in lessons and keeping commitments! YAHOO! I'm excited to see how things turn out for her.

Thursday we did some service for one of the members of the ward. The dad has cancer and has to go to radiation every day. So we went by and cleaned up his house for him. Man, I have never appreciated my mom more, now that I have to clean so much (thanks mom).

On Friday we had weekly planning.... but then were able to go stop by Sabrina! She's been super busy this week, so we hadn't been able to meet with her. But her husband came to church last week which was huge! And he's going to allow her to be baptized. May 17th is the date!

Saturday we had practice for our choir rehearsal for stake conference. It's pretty rad. I love singing all the hymns! Well that's basically all we can sing. But I'm pretty fond of them! We also taught a restoration to this super cool lady who had been having lots of spiritual experiences lately and was able to recognize that we really were sent from God. I LOVE IT! We had a lesson with one of our African friends Gertrude, and her aunt. We brought an African joint teacher. It was the greatest thing ever. They all kept singing their African religious songs and praising God. I loved every single second of it.

Sunday was CRAZY! We were trying to get our new investigator Janabel to come to church so we were supposed to stop by her house so she could follow us to church. But she was ASLEEP! But Lisa, Georgia, Faith, Brittany, Marco, and Sabrina came, which we were super stoked about. Then during second hour a recent convert/less active family we have been working with came to church! I love them so much, it's the Davis family. They have 2 girls in high school and then 2 little boys. We stop by and teach them ALL the time. I'm so invested in their salvation it's insane. But their oldest daughter had just moved home and I had never met her. But she was crying in the coat closet and bishop asked us to go help her. So we went and talked to her.....about food. Yup. I'm that awkward. When people cry I have no idea what to say. Which is a dilemma cause basically all of our investigators cry every lesson. I digress. But this girl finally calms down and we bring her to Sunday School with us and to Young Womens as well (it was so great to be back in Young Womens! I miss it so much!) But then at 1:00 we went to church again with Janabel cause she was finally up and moving. It was great that she was able to go.

There's my week. I want you all to know that I have a testimony about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Truly I see miracles EVERY day out here. I know that this is the Lord's work and his plan is to help each and everyone of his children gain immortality and eternal life. We have been saved during this time before the 2nd coming to prepare the world for Christ. And we do that by boldly and nobly proclaiming the truth and living our lives in such a way that everyone will recognize that we are disciples of Him.

3rd Nephi 9:13

Love Sister Terry

sister power!

After a run

St. Paul Temple

Doing service with Sis. Tingey

April 21, 2014

This week was full of SO many miracles! We've been working really hard to get 30 lessons a week, and it's taken a lot of hard work! Especially cause we've been going to a lot of meetings lately. But it's been awesome to see people's hearts and minds turn to the savior during this Easter week.

One experience was when we went to stop by a referral from the zone leaders. She wasn't there and we decided to knock around. Every door we knocked on was slammed in our face. And I was starting to get frustrated; I just wanted to be able to go where God needs me and to be able to share this great message with someone! Well then we went to turn onto a street to go stop by a less active and I decided we should go and knock on just one more door. As we went there we started talking about being representatives of Jesus Christ and told her that this message will bless her life. I then told her that God had directly sent us to her because this message is so important for her to hear. She then told us about how the past week she had had crazy cool spiritual experiences feeling like she needs to spark back up her relationship with God and how she's looking for a church. It was SO cool to see how open she got as she felt the spirit testify that our message was true.

We also met with Sabrina (our German Friend) and the week before we committed her to pray about being baptized on May 17th. When we met with her we were super nervous because she mentioned that she had a lot of questions from what we taught last time (namely, Baptism, holy ghost and endure to the end) But when we got there she said that she prayed and she knows this is what God wants her to do. It was such a miracle! I was so impressed by her great faith and desire to follow God.

It's been such a great time in being able to work with Sister Tingey. Training certainly is SUPER difficult. And I mess up. A lot. But I'm so thankful for the Savior and his infinite love. And even though it was difficult for him, he never stopped doing what he knew was right. And I pray that we can all follow his example as well.
A week ago we were able to see the Minnesota Mormon chorale perform the Lamb of God. And the last song has a few lines that I love:

He who healed our sorrows, Rose with greater healing. He whose love no end knows, Lift up our burden carries our grief... Here.... He who was rejected. Rose with power and glory. He, so long expected come to redeem us, come to deliver. Here is hope

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress or persecution, or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Here is love unbounded here is all compassion here is mercy founded o great Redeemer o prince of Glory. Here is hope.

And I know that it is true. This is a gospel of Hope. The atonement gives us all hope. Hope for a brighter future, and hope that we can continually change to become more like our savior.



Love, Sister Terry

April 7, 2014

Well this week has definitely been a great one! We have been working super hard in sharing shorter messages but having the spirit with us ALL the time, and involving it in everything that we do. It's nice to be training a new missionary, because then all the ideas are fresh from the eyes of a member, and we don't get in a rut of how things just are with missionary work. So we are trying to be creative as well.
This week as we were teaching, we met a fantastic teenager named Ranisha. We were teaching her a doorstep restoration lesson and as we got to the end and committed her to be baptized, she fainted!! no joke. It was terrifying. So we stayed for a while and made her some mac and cheese to feel better. haha. It was definitely a crazy experience, but she seemed super excited for us to come back and share more of our message!

We also met with one of our investigators named Regina! Regina has been investigating the church for several years, but she finally knows it's true; she's just waiting for a day when her brother can come from Utah to baptize her! As we met with her, I was SUPER nervous because we had to let her know that a friend that she has been bringing to church is slim shady and some of the members know her and are not comfortable with her being there. It's so sad that although the church is for everyone, some are not able to attend because of past choices and the consequences for them. But I was worried that Regina wouldn't understand, and that she would question if the gospel is true if we tell her that her friend isn't allowed. But as I shared with her my testimony of the plan of salvation and the plan that God has for her friend it was amazing to see the spirit of God descend upon her. Understanding just flooded into her, and she accepted the things that we told her. It was quite humbling to remember that it is God that does the teaching, not me. And that my job is to place our investigators in a situation where they will be open to the teachings of the spirit!

WOO! and then of course, CONFERENCE! It was FANTASTIC! I loved the inspired messages given by the prophet and his councilors. I'm hugely looking forward to reading them for the next 6 months, and for many years to come! It reminds me how important that we have a prophet on the earth today, with priesthood keys to lead and guide the children of God. This really is a one of a kind church. And it is God's church here on the earth today.

I hope you all had a fantastic time watching conference, and that we can remain true to the faith until we stand at the judgment bar of God to account for the things that we have done in this probationary state.



I lOVE YOU!!
Love, Sister Terry

March 24, 2014

Hello Mom!!!

Well to start off, indeed I do have a new companion! Her name is Sister Tingey, she is from Bountiful (she know Amelia Bowles, my roommate from college!) and she is 19. She went to LDS Business college before her mission and got her associates in interior design.

So basically that should be enough information to stalk her life. Anyway, she is super cool! It definitely has been a new experience training someone to be a missionary but luckily she is definitely prepared and trying her hardest! haha it's true when they say that training a missionary prepares you to raise your children. I appreciate you more and more every day I'm out here. :)

It's been very humbling having to be the example and leader. Even though I had already taken over the area before, all my companions have been older than me, so taking someone fresh from the MTC and helping them know how to teach has been quite an experience. Luckily, there are SO many people to teach here, and we are staying very busy. She gets to put all that MTC practice to use! :)

Well I have been using the workouts that you have given me. I seemed destined to never have a companion who enjoys working out. So it's a lot of burpees and running up and down the hall. Unfortunately Sister Tingey likes sugar as much as I do! And we like the same things. Say goodbye to treatless transfer. Hopefully I can at least do a less treat transfer. But so far things aren't going well...

You did send me the track schedule. I need to look through my things to see if I still have it. I sometimes lose things. Like my mind. I've definitely turned into a scatter brain, and I now realize how valuable it is to have 2 people doing missionary work together! Then at least when you forget things, the other one remembers. Whew. Thank heavens.

Well, it has definitely been an exhausting week, but also a fantastic one filled with a ton of miracles and strength from God. Every time I think that He has blessed me so much, and there's no way I can receive even more blessings from him, I learn more about the gospel and the infinite power of the atonement and the other ways that it blesses us in all of our lives. Truly it is the good news that we get to share with everyone, and I love being able to share that every second of my life. God has given me so much power and authority to share His important message, and somehow it all works out.

Well, I hope you have a fantastic week!!! I LOVE YOU!



Love, Sister TERRY

March 16, 2014

Hi mom!

This is going to be a very quick and short email, so Sorry!

But here are a lot of pictures to make up for it!

This week has been crazy cool and full of So many Miracles!

First of all, Izzy was BAPTIZED! It was so great! She comes from a part member family where her mom is a member, but her dad is not. We've been trying to work with the dad but there has been no success. Then when she was baptized, her grandpa came from Utah to baptize her, and her dad came to the baptism! He also came to church for the very first time the next day for the confirmation! Now, we or the elders are going to start teaching him as well. So it's pretty exciting stuff!

I can't remember much else of what happened this week.... oops. But transfer news! I get to stay here another transfer. And get this… I'm training. haha oh no. It'll be interesting for sure. That poor new sister. But I'm super excited for her, and for the great things that are going on in this area!

Sounds like you had a great week, and I love that thought you shared. That's why Helaman 5, Mosiah 2-4 and 2 Nephi 1 have always been my favorites. You can tell the love that these prophets had for their children as well as for the people they serve. But then you compare it to the book of Omni where a dozen or so people write their last words and it's completely ridiculous. They didn't have anything to say. FALSE. We can always bear our testimonies.

Usually when we have members come we tell them who we are visiting, a couple of facts about them and something that they are struggling with. Then we give them a chapter in the Book of Mormon to read and ask them to prayerfully ponder a question that we give them about the principles found in PMG. But some missionaries do it differently. They should at least tell you what lesson they are teaching. ALWAYS invite the investigator to church. It works so much better when the member does it. And my favorite lessons have been when a member isn't afraid to state her opinion or answer a question that the gator has. It's always awkward when I have to ask the member a question to get her talking .SO don't be afraid to be guided by the spirit and talk. That's awesome that you are going with them! Just stick to the basic principles of having faith unto repentance.

I LOVE YOU!! stay awesome. And legit. Pray often!

Love, Sister Terry

Sisters Terry and Ballard with Izzy

Sister Terry and her snow fort

March 9, 2014

You got to see the new temple film?? (It was actually the second time for the newest movie) ME TOO!! We went to the temple for the first time since I've been here! Man! I needed it SO bad! I forgot how much I love going there. Before I left on my mission I tried to go at least twice a week. That's a HUGE difference from going every 6 months :( but the new film was AMAZING! I was praying for more spiritual understanding to know what on earth the importance of the movie was and what I was supposed to learn.

I thought it was so interesting all the different sides of Satan that they portray. In this one he is trying to act all big brother and friendly, where he is wiser than you and you don't want to disappoint him. But then God is all in there super cool and not intimidated at all. They did a much better job at showing the emotions behind things. Like when God casts Satan out he is willing to do it, and he's frustrated with Satan. But Satan is still his son, and it hurts him to have to do that.

I also loved how Christ's atonement was really the center of everything. God presented it even before Adam became Adam, and then again after they ate the fruit. It was never in question whether it would really happen or not. I was SO glad that I could go and remember those promises that I made when I went through for the first time. It was also fascinating because there was a deaf man there and I was able to read the words (which was super cool) but I also was interested to see what they would do for him at the end of the session. (I don’t know if I can share what she actually said; just know that it all worked out in the end). It reaffirms to me that this is God's work, and his truth. And all are accepted here. That it is a world-wide church because we are all God's children and not one of us are exempt.

This week we soaked up the FANTASTIC weather! I never thought that 27 degrees would feel so warm! It's so funny because there is SO much snow that as it melts there are puddles everywhere! I now understand how there could be so many lakes and streams. All that snow has to go somewhere!

Well, yet again we are going to have a baptism for another 9 year old on Saturday! Basically we teach a lot of little children! When I first got here it was a dang hard adjustment from how I taught before. But now I love it! We get to sing songs with them and play little games to help them understand. And they have such great faith! It's amazing, and I'm definitely looking forward to working more with these kids.

Things have been very interesting lately, as soon as I feel that I am adjusted to missionary life, everything falls through and we have to start over with the work in the area. What I have learned is that there is no such thing as a right way and wrong way to do missionary work. And when it's led by the spirit and our hearts are pure, it always works out. Somehow.

I really am so thankful for this opportunity to be out here on a mission. Everyday I'm reminded of a promise in my Patriarchal blessing saying that I will have a unique understanding of the atonement and I see it come true as I meet these West Africans who have lost everything and everyone but have healed. I see it as people take steps to follow the gospel of Jesus Christ and change for the better. And I see it more and more in my own life as I realize how much Christ must have loved us to do such a miraculous thing. Truly it was not an enviable task. But I'm thankful that he was willing to do it. And we too sometimes have to do things that we don't want to, make certain calls be patient and loving even when we are frustrated. But with the atonement of Christ all things are possible!

I appreciate your prayers and your example!

Do lots of fun things for your birthday and party like an animal! haha or just go to the track meet, that's fun too.

I LOVE YOU. Make good choices.

Love, Sister Terry

March 2, 2014

Can I just tell you, this week was SO crazy! It started off with Tuesday night when we came home at 7:00 to grab Sister Ballard's stuff for exchanges and our entire kitchen was FLOODED with dirty Rice and Bean water. We don't even eat Rice and Beans!!! it was nuts. But we spent the rest of the night with our sister Training leaders filling up buckets of dirty water and throwing it out of the window where it would freeze before it even hit the ground! haha it was that cold! Quite the adventure!

Then a few weeks ago we were driving and slid into a snow bank, so we had to get our car repaired. So we were on bikes for most of the week! All of the sidewalks have a good foot of ice on them and the roads are so tiny because of all of the snow packed to the sides that it makes biking super treacherous! It was a blast and a half though! My little bike bertha rocked it like a champ! The entire time we were biking my back tire was flailing like a fish out of water and I was prepared at any time to biff it hard. But God's angels were among us and helped us stay safe! Except for one time when I got a little prideful and the saying "pride cometh before the fall" was especially true on this occasion. When I hit a patch of ice and couldn’t brake and so I fell... on my bum. Right in front of one of the Elders investigators. but luckily we wear so many layers that It didn't even hurt. haha bonus for the cold weather!

Basically it's been the best week ever! Due to all the hardships and craziness that we had we learned how to trust God even more, and have Faith that he would lead us! Which he did! And we were able to see the coolest miracles and have WAY awesome experiences! In case you were wondering, mission life is definitely the coolest thing ever. Except for being a parent. That's a pretty worthwhile calling as well. :)

During church this week we had 7 investigators show up! Which is a HUGE miracle since we usually only have 3. And since it was fast and testimony meeting, one of our investigators named Happy (she's 10) got up and bore her testimony about the things we were teaching her, and thanked us for teaching her as well. It was SO cute. So then I got up to bear my testimony as well. -but we have a new mission president named president Ehlert who has really been pushing the importance of exercising (I agree), he gave us all pedometers that give out a shrill beep if we haven't moved for a consecutive time of 5 minutes within the past hour. And since we were at sacrament meeting I hadn't moved at all.- So I'm bearing my testimony and all of the sudden my pedometer goes off. Super Awkward. haha basically everyone in my ward thinks that I'm a robot now and just needed a change of batteries. Excellent.

hmm. interesting stuff about the Old Testament. I will read it and research it further. But one of the families we have been working with asked me to read Songs of Solomon for them and tell them what it means. Highlights from my study:

Comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.
probably the best verse I have ever read. And super relatable.

2 Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.

Best compliment ever!! I will use it ALL. THE. TIME.

It's probably one of the most interesting books of the bible. But it's alright.

Anyways, I hope you have a fantastic week!!
I love you lots!

Sister Terry