"If O'er See Or Land I Roam Still I Think Of Happy Home And My Friends Among Those West Virginia Hills "

11/8/15


Hello my beautiful friends and family!

First of all, THIS HAPPENED! It's official, I AM IN AUSTRALIA!!!!!

Now the biggest news of all-
As many of you know, my knee has been giving me some trouble. It was recommended by the dotor and confirmed on Friday that I will be going home to recieve treatment. They have recommended at least 6 weeks of physical therapy and possibly surgery. I will leave a week from Wednesday, but THIS WILL BE MY FINAL EMAIL FOR NOW.
When my mission president told me, I was devastated. I knew that it could be an option, but I was hoping that I could stay in this great place with these beautiful people. I definitely cried but I also felt peace. "Learn of me, listen to my words, walk in the meekness of my Spirit and you shall have peace in me." That is what came to my mind. Over and over again.
While it pains me to leave Australia and this great work for a time, I wouldn't trade the last 7 months for a thing.
I want to thank each and every one of you for all of the love, prayers, encouragement and support.
Australia, God be with you till we meet again.

Sister A


P.S. Also, last night was the musical fireside that I had been putting together. It was BEAUTIFUL! Everyone did SO well and I felt the stronget Spirirt so far on my mission.
And- JACK IS GETTING BAPTIZED THIS SATURDAY. He has asked me to sing and I feel so privileged to be able to do that. I am so excited for him and I know that Heavenly Father is SO proud of him for making this decision and step in his life.

"Oh This Would Never Happen In Idaho!"

11/1/15

Hello everyone!
Apologies for not writing last week. It has been the busiest and craziest week yet! ANd here is why:
My knee was playing up again last week and I was having a hard time getting around. So Sister Salts and I were given a third sister, Sister Toame. She's from Vanuatu, an island near Fiji and she is just darling! Wonderful missionary and the sweetest thing. We became a trio so that they could continue to teach and so that I could rest my knee with members. However, President and Sister Back (my mission president and his wife) decided that it would be better for me to be transfered into an area that had a car available. So I have now been emergency transfered- again- back to Liverpool 1st!!!! This was my first area that I was emergency transfered out of. If that weren't crazy enough, I am in a trio with Sister MacMillan, my MTC companion and Sister Tau, my third companion in Liverpool 1st before I got emergency transfered! Like I said, craziest week yet!!!
With all of these changes, I've been doing a lot of thinking. Mostly I've been thinking of how much God loves us. Each and every one of us. One of my favorite scriptures is 1 Nephi 11:16-17. Nephi is asked "Knowest thou the condescenion of God?" Or in other words "Do you know or understand God?" And Nephi answers by saying "I know that He loveth His children, nevertheless I do not know the meaning of all things." I also know that God loves His children. I know that we don't know or understand everything and we don't have to. If we cling to that eternal and unchanging truth that God loves evry single one of us, then we can find hope, comfort and peace in this life and in every circumstance, whatever it may be.
Thank you ALL for your continued love, prayers, support and encouragement.
Peace be your journey,
Sister A

"Shall We Not Go On In So Great A Cause?" Doctrine and Covenants 128:22

10/19/15

Hello everyone!
This week was a slow one. Although we set a goal to teach two lessons a day and were able to come very close to reaching that goal, we found many investigators and less actives unavailable. Many were either not home or did not have time to see us. Although we were saddened, we kept our chins up and were still able to teach those lessons. This week we are shooting for three lessons a day. Sister Salts and I are very excited to keep working and stretching ourselves.
We are also putting together a ward musical fireside and are extremely excited about it! It will be about the life of the Savior as told through scripture and song. We were struggling to get people involved at first, but things are picking up and we couldn't be happier! We are excited for this opportunity to have the ward involved and to invite members and non members alike to feel the Spirit and to learn of the Savior.
Each day I am learning more and more about the gospel and what The Lord wants for me. One of my FAVORITE scriptures is "for whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." I can't say that I have completely lost myself in this work, but I feel myself coming closer to that point everyday.
The gospel is great! It brings happiness, peace, comfort and direction in an ever changing world. It is true and I love it! For those members out there, keep living and loving it! For the non members, check it out at lds.org or mormon.org.
Peace be your journey,
Sister A

"Count Your Blessings More Than You Count Your Challenges" Larry R Lawrence

10/11/15

Hello everyone!
This week has been crazy . . . crazy awesome!
Sister Salts is still amazing and I'm learning SO much from her everyday. We got to watch General Conference this weekend and the Women's Session, too.
Our investigator, Jack was able to come to THREE sessions of conference AND took notes! We are so happy with all of the progress he is making.I absolutely LOVED conference! I had a few questions on my mind and conference was able to answer them all and more. I received answers to questions that I didn't even know that I had. Oh how blessed we all are to have living prophets, apostles and general authorities of the church. I think of the scripture in Hebrews that talks about how our leaders "Watch for our souls." I feel so blessed to have so many people watching for my individual soul.

I know that God has called a living prophet on the earth to guide us today. I know that He has also called very single leader in the church; either a member of the seventy or a beehive president. I know that His hand is everything and that He is looking out for us.
Thank you all for the prayers, encouragement and support.
Peace be your journey,
Sister A