Elder, You Probably Shouldn't Sleep In Your Suit

Hello everyone!
It's been yet another long, trying, wonderful and exhausting week down under!
Although many days were difficult, we saw many miracles as well.
Our investigator, Jack is doing really well. He keeps reading the Book of Mormon and is praying. We are extremely proud of him. We also got a call this morning from an investigator that we had not ben able to get a hold of. She called us and told us that she hasn't forgotten about us and that she wants to meet us tomorrow! Honestly, it's the little blessings and miracles of everyday that make all of this worth it.
I am constantly striving to remember that "all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. . . therefore, HOLD ON . . . God shall be with you forever and ever." Doctrine and Covenants 122: 8-9
I know that the atonement has power to bless our lives every single day. I know that we can continually call upon the atonement to give us the strength and patience that we need to persevere. I know that The Lord keeps His promises to us. I know that there are people that are prepared to hear the gospel. I know that those people will receive it. I know that if we can "hold on" those miracles are truly just around the corner.
Thank you all for your love, prayers, encouragement and support!
Peace be your journey!
Sister A

God Our Strength Will Be; Press Forward Ever, Called To Serve Our King

(From 9/20/15)
Hello everyone!
It's been another long but good week!
Sister Salts and I are working hard and are still teaching some wonderful people.
One thing that I realized that I had failed to mention to you all is how incredibly international Sydney is! I mean people here are from ALL over. Vietnam, Cambodia, Serbia, Holland, Iraq, New Zealand, Syria, Samoa, Thailand, Africa, Russia - EVERYWHERE! It is so amazing to me. Sister Salts and I have to carry around more pamphlets in other languages than in English! It is always way more likely that we will run into someone who's first language is NOT English. And I am LOVING it! Meeting people from so many different places and cultures is such a great learning experience for me. And I still know that we are all brothers and sisters who were created in the similitude of our Heavenly Father.
Sister Salts is THE BEST! WE get along SO well and are working really well together. She loves music, plays piano like a boss and I think I might have already said she's from Hawaii. She was going to BYU-H and wants to be a teacher. She visa waited in SLC for a transfer before getting here. Is one of seven. Her dad is actually from Tennessee! and her mom is from Micronesia. wherever in the world that is. Seriously, SHE IS THE BEST.

We taught a less active of about 10 years on Saturday and she came to church yesterday!! The Lord really does prepare people to receive this gospel ALL.THE.TIME.
I just want to bear testimony that you NEVER know who the Lord prepares for you. You HAVE to talk with everyone you see. This gospel is true and blesses lives and families! Why not allow everyone the opportunity to find that truth and receive those blessings?!
I love this gospel SO much and am so grateful that I have the opportunity to share it with others.
Thank you ALL for your constant love, support and prayers!

Sister A

(From 8/11/15)
Hello everyone!!
It's been a crazy week but things are great!
Each day we go from feeling great to feeling tired to feeling anxious to feeling exhausted to feeling great again! WOW. So Sister Morgan and Sister Chaipinit taught a girl just before I came and she got baptized on Sunday!! It was a beautiufl baptism and all four of us sang, "Come Follow Me."
Our investigator, Daniel came to church on Sunday AND he brought his friend, Matthew!!! We also have an investigator, Diana who is unbelievable! We have had one lesson with her and she already wants to be baptized! The blessings are just flowing from heaven right now! We have also spent a TON of time trying to find more peopel to teach. We've spent lots of time outside of the library and at train station trying to spread the word but even when we get lots of potentials, ultimately none of them are interested. Honestly, finding is HARD! I'm really not very comfortable with it and although my attitude is a little bit better about it each time, I still end up tired and extremely frustrated. Sister Morgan always seems so optimistic about it all and makes it look SO easy. I don't know HOW she does it! Anyway, I'm praying really hard for assurance and guidance as we try harder each day to find those that The Lord has prepared for us.
The temple was AMAZING of course. I decided to go in with a very specific question with faith that the Lord would answer that question- and He did. I have such a testimony of the temple. It truly is The Lord's house and I am so honored to have been able to spend time there to feel closer to Him and learn more of His plan for me.
Thank you ALL for your continual love and prayers!
Sister A
P.S. I PROMISE that pictures are coming soon!

P.P.S. Also, I did not get to go to Time Out For Women. We had some appointments that day. BUT something kind of amazing happened! A bunch of other sisters got to go and afterwards, some sisters called us and they said, "Your sister says hi." I had NO idea what they meant because I knew there was no way any of my sisters were in Australia at Time Out For Women. They said "well she said something sister something says hi. she looked like she worked there." FINALLY, I realized it had to have been David Archuleta's manager!!! Ali must have told her that I was here and to say Hi to me!! So that was exciting!

(From 8/16/15)
Hello everyone!
It has been a good and productive week. Sister Morgan and I are still working really well together and have several great investigators and less-actives that we are working with. One investigator, Eddie now has a baptismal date! He is 14 and SUCH a great kid. We are still teaching Daniel and his friend, Matthew now would like the lessons! Matthew sat in on the last one and is interested in learning more. I have really gained a testimony that The Lord is preparing His children to hear the gospel. So many of these people are SO ready for the gospel and it is making me SO HAPPY!
As companions, Sister Morgan and I have been reading "Becoming a Consecrated Missionary." EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS TALK. Even if you're nt a missionary yet! WHAT A TALK! Initially, I finished reading the talk thinking, "Boy, I have SO much to work on!" But after further reading and studying my thoughts have changed to "Boy, I get to improve myself!" I am grateful that The Lord allows us the opportunites in this life to learn and grow and reach our full and divine potential. Life is hard but the gospel makes it just that much easier. I know that. I am grateful to know that this gospel helps us in that improvement. It gives us the tools we need to reach that potential.
Thank you all for your continuing love, prayers and support!
Sister A

Zone (Missionaries in the area) Picture

(From 8/30/15)

Hello everyone!
It has been an extremely eventful week this week filled with excitement, tears and tender mercies!
BIG NEWS- I have been emergency transferred to a new area with a new companion! I am in an area called Green Valley and my new companion is Sister Salts. She is 22 and from Hawaii. She is SUPER sweet and an awesome missionary. We are getting along well and the area is good. We also split the ward with a set of Elders. I will miss my Liverpool 1st Ward but I am happy to be here!
And MORE NEWS- I got here Wednesday night and was told that I would be driving! Super nervous but calm, I cautiously drove all day Thursday. Unfortunately, Thursday night we had an accident. WE ARE OKAY. I was at a stop light with my right signal on to turn. The light turned green, I didn't see anything coming and I began to turn. We were hit on the front left corner. The impact turned us around and we hit a pole head on. The driver of the other car was an older man. Maybe 70. When I saw the other driver I for sure thought, "Oh no, I've caused a heart attack and this man is going to go right here, right now." I was in shock and petrified. It was also freezing outside. Apparently, his seatbelt caused him to have difficulty breathing but HE IS OKAY. Again, WE ARE OKAY. Some bruises but it's not too bad. I think I hit my chest on the steering wheel. It's been SUPER sore but other than that I'm feeling fine. The good news is we gave the cops who interviewed us copies of the Book of Mormon! Take advantage of every opportunity, right?!
We did have an investigator, Jack come to church yesterday! We honestly were not sure if he would show! It was extremely exciting for us to see.
Honestly, everything else is great and Australia is getting prettier everyday! We are slowly but surely moving into spring and summer, so warmer weather is just around the corner for us! They've been talking about how people here celebrate Christmas by going to the beach!
I am so grateful to be here as the Lord's instrument. I know that missionary work is about bringing others, and ourselves, closer to Christ. I know that He loves us individually and that He is in charge. I know that His will is far more important than ours. While He loves us and wants good things for us, He knows best. Let's all trust in Him in all that we do. I know that as we place that trust in Him, all will be well.
I love you and miss you all and continually thank you for your prayers, love and support!
Sister A

(From 9/6/15)

Hello Everyone!
This week was . . SOMETHING!
I've been doing fine. My chest is still really bruised. Turning from side to side hurts a TON but everything else is fine. Sister Salts had a huge bruise on her chest from the seatbelt but it's all healed up now. She and I are getting along super well! This week was hard though. We had a bunch of appointments set up but so many cancelled. Sister Salts and I were really down about it, BUT the miracle is always right around the corner. We finally got the chance to meet with a potential investigator, Julius, last night. He is from Sierra Leone, Africa. Sister Salts felt inspired to start the lesson by singing "Joseph Smith's First Prayer." It made SUCH a difference in the lesson! The Spirit was so strong and really testified to me of the power and importance of music and The Spirit in a lesson.
Even though days are difficult, I do know that the miracles of the Lord truly are right around the corner. We just have to make it to that corner! Days are long and tiring but if we truly give our all to the Lord, I know that we will be blessed.
I am grateful to be a missionary at this place and at this time. I am grateful to be in the Green Valley ward and I am grateful to have Sister Salts as my companion.
Thank you all for your continued support, love, prayers and encouragement!
Sister A

(From 9/13/15)

Hello everyone!
So much happened this week, it's not even funny.
Two men on the street asked us out, told us they thought our prophet was a fake and that the Free Mason's were the ones who crashed the planes into the Twin Towers. YEP.
A man in the store asked me if I had a boyfriend. When I said no he responded, in his Serbian accent with, "No boyfriend, no life!"
We had Zone Conference which was great! I was actually asked to sing, which went well and managed to snag a recording. I'll see if I can get it to send. it may be too big. It was a wonderful conference. We learned how to become better teachers and how to better teach by the Spirit. We also learned to become a baptizing mission. Baptism truly is the goal for Heavenly Father's children. Baptism is that beautiful covenant that we all have an opportunity to make with Him
and I am so blessed that I have the opportunity to let people know that as a missionary.
Our investigator, Jack came to Saturday's session of Stake Conference!!!! We'll see him tonightand get a better idea of what he thought about it, but he said he really liked "the vibe."
We also have a couple on date! We met an Iraqi man, Ayad at the bus stop last week and gave him a restoration pamphlet. After calling, we set up an appointment with his family. His wife is Mary and they have three beautiful children. Before going into the lesson, we wanted to put them on date for baptism, but were unsure of what date specifically. After praying, we both felt thatOctober 24th was the day. After extending the invitation, they accepted! We are very excited to work with this family and prepare them to make these sacred covenants with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
We also had Stake Conference on Saturday and Sunday. It was amazing! The theme was missionary work. Two members talked about missionary work. An RM talked about his mission. A mother of 3 current missionaries (bless her whole soul!) gave a beautiful talk on making her home a "mini MTC" and how to raise your children to become missionaries. A recent convert of a few months spoke. President and Sister Back spoke and Elder Cummings of the Area Seventy gave a fantastic talk. He talked about three parables. The parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the woman who losses her silver coin and the prodigal son. He talked about how in all three parables something was lost for whatever reason but the important thing was that they were all found. When he talked about the lost sheep parable, I couldn't help myself from remembering something that I was told before I left. "Missionaries find the lost sheep."
I know that that is true. I know that Heavenly Father wants His children to return to Him. I know that He loves His children. And I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to tell His children, my brothers and sisters, that they have a Savior in Jesus Christ. That they have that opportunity to return to His presence.
Thank you all for your love, prayers and encouragement!
LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL HEAPS! (that's the Australian way of saying "love you lots" or "love you tons")
Sister A

(Email from 7/26/15)
Hi everyone!
It has been another wonderfully crazy week!
Some details I failed to mention last week:
- words Australians use that we don't
heaps (a lot)
mate (friend, buddy)
petrol (gas)
yous (you all, y'all, you guys)
- My area is called Liverpool
- My companion and I share an apartment with two other sisters that we are splitting the ward with. Sister Jacobsen is San Diego and Sister Chaipinit is from Thailand. They are wonderful!


We had a goal to teach a total of twenty lessons and last night we were one lesson away from that goal. We thought and prayed to know who The Lord needed us to teach and visit and decided on a less active woman who had not been able to meet with us recently. She was home and invited us in! We were able to teach her and her sister about the importance of prayer and its role in our lives. There was a very strong spirit there and I believe we all learned something. We invited her to say the closing prayer. Although initially reluctant, this less active woman offered the most genuine and humble prayer I have ever heard. She began to cry as she felt the spirit. Earlier in the week, I had read a scripture in my personal studies and had been sharing it with those we were teaching. That scripture repeated itself in my mind during that prayer. "The Lord will remember the prayers of the righteous." (Mormon 5:21)
Everyone, I am SO grateful for this gospel in my life. I am grateful for the guidance and peace that it gives me and I am grateful for this opportunity to share this gospel with others.
I love and miss every single one of you and thank you for your love, prayters, encouragement and support!
Sister A

(Email from 8/3/15)
Hello everyone!
It has been another wonderful week.
- Sister Morgan and I, without realizing it, were able to teach a ton of lessons this week! I love her so much and am so very grateful to have her as my companion at this time. We are getting along great and teaching together really well.
- We have one progressing investigator, Alisha. She's 15 and reading the Book of Mormon. She is already up to Enos!! We are super excited for her!! Daniel is another investigator who we have high hopes for. He hasn't made it to church yet, but he has invited his friend to come to his next lesson!!
Oh also, we will get to go tot the temple next week! Apparently, only certain zone's ever get to go and we are one of them! We'll be there TUESDAY August 11th and THAT WILL BE OUR P DAY. So you won't hear from me until then!
- We had interviews with President and Sister Back last week. They are GREAT. Sister Back actually reminds of me of you! She is really loving and easy to talk to. President Back is awesome. You can really feel the genuine love that he has for you from the second you meet him.
I personally have had so many learning opportunities this week that if I mentioned all of them this would be a VERY long email!
Big thing that I learned this week- I have a testimony of personal study and receiving personal revelation through that study. I have been able to not just gain a deeper knowledge of the doctrine but I have also had many opportunities to share what I have learned in lessons with others and help those people. I know that The Spirit truly is THE teacher and that our personal study time is not just for us but for those that we meet and teach.
I am already learning so much and cannot wait to see what the rest of my mission will teach me. Although I have questioned if I should be here more than once, I can say now that I am glad to be here learning the things that I am learning. I know that I am getting stonger and stronger everyday and that The Lord is preparing me to find those people who are ready to recieve the gospel here at this time.
I am glad to be here and glad to be serving as a missionary.
Thank you all SO much for your love, prayers and encouragement.
Sister A

Hi Everyone!
-Hope everyone had a happy Fourth of July! Our apartment actually faces the opposite direction of the fireworks at Disneyland and for safety reasons we needed to be in our apartments by 8 pm. So really we didn't get to do much of anything except sing "The Star Spangled Banner" in our apartment over and over again.
- So the big news- I GOT MY VISA!!!!! I will head down under on July 13th, the end of the transfer. Of course, I have mixed feelings about going. I am extremely excited to be there but I am extremely sad to be leaving! I've been taking pictures (soon to come) with practically everyone.
- Also, my knee is SO much better! I'm still wearing my stabilizer but it feels and looks much better. The couple days of rest really helped. And I'm convinced that it's healed up so quickly because of al of your prayers. Thank you!!!
- Today our zone got to do a session in the Newport temple! Of course, it was amazing.
- The last two weeks have been wonderful! Our recent convert, Christina is doing really well and we're still teaching our awesome investigators and less actives! On Sunday, we had our fast and testimony meeting. There was an incredible spirit there as many beautiful testimonies were given. A woman who was visiting the ward bore her testimony in Russian, I think. Although none of us knew what this woman was saying, the spirit was felt by many and even moved some, including myself, to tears. That reminded me of the power of the spirit. I've been learning more and more about the importance and power of testifying to others, by word and deed. I encourage everyone everywhere to continue to do so. Continue to be an example to those around you.
Thank you all for your love, encouragement, prayers and support!
I love and miss you all!
Hurrah for Israel!
Sister A

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all of the pops out there!
Wonderful week and weekend.
- I've been recovering well and will meet with a doctor on Wednesday to make sure all will be well!
- I was pretty much on bed rest for a couple of days last week BUT we're getting right back on track and teaching some great people. We even invited another investigator to get baptized and he said yes!!! We are back in action and loving it!
And of course the big news- Christina was baptized Saturday and confirmed yesterday! It was a great experience and really gave me a chance to think about the importance of the gospel in my life and in the lives of my family and friends. Also, a less active that we have been teaching received the priesthood yesterday. Seriously, an awesome weekend! The gospel is so important to me. The knowledge of Jesus Christ and His atonement gives me such hope. I know that I can rely on Him and trust in Him. I know that He loves me individually and unconditionally. I also know that loves and knows each of us this way. I know that the atonement is not just a one time event. I know that the atonement has the power to bless our lives every single day.
Thank you all for your continued love, support, prayers and encouragement!
Sister A

 Hello my friends! It has been an extremely wonderful and eventful week.

- As we were leaving a neighborhood to continue visiting people we came upon some ducks in the middle of the road. Unfortunately, there weren't crossing the road. They were walking right in front of us. So Sister Fernandez decided to clear the way for us. 

- I found a cotton tree. 

- At the transfer, we got a different car with a bike rack on it. It previously belonged to the zone leaders. Here's Sister Fernandez trying to figure out how to put a member's bike on the bike rack.

- Sister Fernandez and I celebrated her year mark by getting ourselves some hot chocolate.

A member happened to have this book!! Of course, I HAD to take a picture with it. And Sister Fernandez photo bombing like a boss. #americanized 

-Unfortunately, my knee hasn't quite healed up yet, but it's not slowing us down too much. 

We're teaching some great investigators and we have a baptism coming up! Our wonderful investigator, Kristina is getting baptized Saturday and we are just over the moon about it! We are hoping that her family will soon follow her incredible example. We're teaching two others that are really progressing and several others that look very promising. 

- Something that I've been doing lately is choosing a scripture to memorize and then apply throughout my week. It has made a HUGE difference in my work as a missionary and a person. For example, this week I decided to memorize and apply doctrine and covenants 35:8. "For I am God and mine arm is not shortened; and I will show miracles, signs, and wonders, unto all those who believe on my name." I decided to pray for those miracles, signs and wonders and really look out for them each day. And I found them! Some were big and others were small but they were there. I would like to invite each of you to try it. I can promise you that by doing so you can learn more about yourself, others and the Savior. By studying even one scripture and applying the principles into your daily life, you can feel the presence of Christ and the Holy Ghost more in your life. I love the gospel, I love my Savior and I love this work. Let's all continue to do our best in moving it forward!
I love and miss you all and thank you for all of your continuous love, encouragement, prayers and support.
Sister A