Trio? Try Triple Threat: 7/27/2015

This week has been the longest week in my life and yet it has passed by in a blur. So much happens in a day. We added up our areas and this week we had 61 lessons! God has definitely given us miracles in abundance. So much happens that mornings feel like they were weeks ago. We  now have 4 people with a baptism date that we are helping.

It's interesting covering a ward by myself. I talked with President this week and they do intend to keep the areas separate so it's up to us to keep the area alive. We fasted that finding would just fall into our laps because we don't have time to find, we got 5 referrals! 

You know how some people just throw their kids into the pool to teach them how to swim? That's pretty much been my week. Either sink or swim. I definitely feel like I'm dog paddling but I'm staying above!

The trio was an adjustment but after a few days it was a lot of fun. I think the moment of offical bonding was when we realized we could do three part harmony. We have been singing a lot. I love it. I usually take the Tenor line an octave above, Sister Underly takes the Alto, and Sister Grandy rocks the melody. It's been good. 

Spiritual Moment:

I've been studying a LOT about Luke 15: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. My brother-in-law posed the question, why are there 3 different stories to say the same thing. This morning I read over it another time and realized they are not the same at all! The sheep wanders off innocently, almost unaware. A sheep is symbolic of innocence. They enter a sin unsuspectingly and soon find themselves lost. In order to get back to the fold, those who represent the savior put them upon their backs and carry them home. The lost coin: It gets lost through the carelessness of others. It takes the efforts "seek(ing) diligently" and "sweeping", cleaning out the offenders own dirt to bring them back. Then you have the prodigal son, someone who willfully disobeys or turns against their Heavenly Father. For them, you just have to watch and wait for them to "come to themselves" and start their own walk home. Then when they come, run, greet them with open arms. You have to let go of past grudges and welcome them back rejoicing.

I don't know if that is completely correct but it's what I felt thisa morning. Hope you all have a great week!

Birthdays, Bug Bites, and Goodbyes: 7/20/2015

***********NEW ADDRESS*****************

Plans changed, I moved in with the STLs so my address has changed. SEND MAIL!

4827 Killdeer Rd

Carson City, NV 89701

Okay, they aren't bug bites. The day after my birthday I woke up with red dots covering my whole body. We thought they were bug bites, maybe ants in the bed. Then they grew and multiplied. We talked to a doctor and he checked it out--Pityriasis Rosea. Imaging mosquito bites over your whole body. It's non-contagious and should go away on it's own by next Thursday.

Though that's no fun but this week has been SO fun. We have seen so many good things happening in Hot Springs. Some very powerful lessons were taught this week. The not-so-spiritual highlight from this week was that it was my birthday! Most the day was normal proselyting. In keeping with tradition I have only gotten yelled at on my birthday! 

We were walking in this apartment complex. Our appointment fell though so we went to contact a Less Active in the same complex. Walking to the door I see a lady and call out "Hey, how are you today?".....nothing. We are a little closer and the member who was with us walks a little closer, makes eye contact and asks "how are you doin'?"... nothing. She stares and looks away. So we brush it off and get to the lady's door. We knock and wait. We knock again. About that time we see the silent lady walking towards the door we were at. Turns out she lives next door. I say Hi one more time to which she goes "ROT IN HELL!" and slams the door and locks it! BAhaha It took all I had not to laugh. I think I did pretty good. We write a note for our Less active who was not home and the member we were with goes "We should write her a note" "ummm.. not so sure that's a good idea." "Come on. Let's do it." We write on this note "You are a beloved daughter of God" and walk away. We try to contact a few more people and finally we were walking our member home and the silent lady walks past us with her laundry. a few steps later she turns around and FLIPS US OFF! Hahaha. I don't know why I think it's SO funny but it's just like how can you be so upset with someone who has never done anything to you? It makes me want to know the story. 

To end my birthday we went to a less actives house and had a "fake" 21st Birthday with IBC Cream Soda and Sparkling Apple Cider Martinellis on the back of his pick up. It was SO much fun and then of course it got more serious and we taught a lesson about Christ and what he's meant in our lives and how we can't wait to see him in the temple. He agreed to start working towards the temple that night. It was perfect.

Then for the sad part. Sister Ash finished her mission and is on her flight home to Wyoming as I type. I already miss her so much. Last night we dropped her off in Sparks and that was the end. She is an amazing sister and she has served so well during her 18 months. She has made such a difference in the lives of the people here and for me. 

I am now with the STLs and it's kinda strange because it's been made obvious to me by multiple leaders that it is more like they cover their area and I am more of the single sister over Hot Springs and am just waiting for my new companion who should come at the transfer in four weeks. But we will live it up as a trio for now.

It's funny. We are the beginning of a joke now. A blonde, a brunette, and a red head!

Goodbye Time

Learn ALL The Things: 7/13/2015

Hello Everyone! This week has been good with lots of emotions--sad and confusing but hilarious and amazing.

Monday and Tuesday was packing up and getting in those last lessons (aka the sad part). Wednesday, Sister Clegg got dropped off the Transfer bus in Lovelock. We got to spend the day together there until the transfer van was heading West--a perfect time to transition and get to know each other. It was so much fun. It was at the drop off that another missionary told me "You companion goes home in like ten days. Are you sure that's who your companion is?" 

Wednesday night I get to the mission home and get filled in. My companion goes home next Monday. I have 10 days to learn the area then I will be put with the Sister Training Leaders in a trio. I will teach them the area and we will cover both wards. It's a very strange situation but I'm ready for the challenge.

Carson is a fun place to be. There are SO many people it's crazy. Sister Ash and I get along very very well. We both keep saying "Why aren't we together longer!" or "Where have you been my whole mission!". It's been fun to get out and work hard in my new area. Always on my toes! 

I'm excited for this next week I can promise there will have some fun stories. One of our investigators talks to spirits (obviously) and is from a long line of witches. She drew Sister Ash's "Guardian Angel"....

"His name is Muelt and he said this picture is accurate except the ears are a little off!"

This picture is quite creepy and he has a sickle. Being a missionary is definitely interesting. But there are so many good times. Moments where the spirit is just there and wonderful chances to hear experiences with God.

We ran into this older couple who are now taking the lessons. God has played a huge role in their lives and has performed many many miracles. But they find him in the small things as well--the sunrise, the beauty of the world. We shared Alma 30:44 with her

" Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."

I love the pattern in the scriptures. Many times the Lord commands to "Stand Still", "Be Still". We have to stop and slow down. It is then we see the evidence that God is in everything. Even when we think he isn't there, that is when He carries us.

Love you all and have a great week!

Independence Day from Sin & Transfers: 7/6/2015

Lori's baptism was amazing and truly special. It was on the fourth of July and we kept calling it "Independence day from Sin". She always talks about how she has been searching for 46  years for a church who tells her the truth and answers her questions and now she knows her search is over. Something she said that truely touched me in her testimony at the baptism is "For the first time I feel comfortable in my own skin, I feel comfortable in my own house and that is something for a person like me". She was confirmed yesterday and she has just been beaming. Yesterday I turn to her and say "I don't know if this is weird, but you LOOK brighter!" "What do you mean?" "You just look like a massive load of burdens and darkness has been lifted from you."

To this she said, "That's because it has. Do you know how much darkness has been in my life? And now, it is ALL gone. It's gone and I have a new life."

We absolutely love her. It's because of people like Lori that missionaries are sent out. There are those in darkness searching and needing the light. It was a perfect ending to the wonderful time I have spent in Lovelock.

Transfer calls were last night. Turns out they are sending me to the Hot Springs ward in Carson City! It is in the same zone as Gardnerville and I have actually been on exchanges there! From what I remember it's a fast pace and energetic area. My companion is Sister Ash and I've only met her in passing a few times, but I hear she is amazing. Unless there are multiple Sister Ash's, this is her last transfer and I plan to make it count :)

I love this work and can't wait to see what the Lord holds in store. Hope you all have a great week :)

Another BIG thing from this week was we met the New Mission President and his wife! They are SO cute and I fell instantly in love. They are so nice and fun. Everyone got to take pictures. So, here is President and Sister Chesnut!

​Another Big Thing (in size but not importance) We found a GIANT cactus. Sister Liddle kept saying it was real and I kept shaking my  head "No.. way!" Finally I got the nerve to touch it. Definitely metal. But it is still cool. There is just a giant cactus in the middle of nowhere!

Holy Hot Cakes: 6/29/2015

This week has been hot. Really hot. And there was rain so a little humid hot. Our car temperature gauge read 110 degrees this week and over 100 was just expected. Since we've been working on dropping people who really aren't moving forward and progressing, we were out finding in it. Here is a good summary of our week:

*Two O'clock in the blisteringly hot sun (107 degrees), we walk onto the property of a less active member and over the overgrown weeds to the front door. We knock. Nothing. We knock again and hear a faint voice in the distant and aren't sure whether they are talking to us

"Uh.... Can you repeat that?"

Nothing. We stand outside a bit longer... awkwardly so. Then we hear this booming angry  voice, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!" 

"Hi, we are the missionaries from your wife's church. Is this somebody someone's house"

A larger man walks around with a big scowl on his face.

"Yes but, WHY DID YOU COME TO THE FRONT DOOR!"

"Uh.... because it's your front door?"

"YOUR SUPPOSE TO USE THE SIDE DOOR!"

"Okay, sorry about that"

"Well, my wife has blood clots in her leg and is not taking visitors right now and I'm taking a ciesta see. So, we are not taking visitors right now." 
*Man walks inside and slams door. We shrug our shoulders and walk back to our air conditioned car.

Yeah.. that's a good summary of our week. But it's been really good too. We are finishing up the lessons for a lady's baptism this week! The whole experience with her has been neat to be a part of. We love her so much. This work is amazing and great! The good moments always make up for the bad ones. You forget the bad days but you never forget the good ones.

This week I've really been thinking about how we are drop (or don't visit as often) those who are not keeping commitments that we leave with them. A few weeks back a missionary at his homecoming said "I have to be progressing". This has made me think about how I can't be a progressing investigator, but am I a progressing missionary? Am I a progressing daughter of God? If God was leaving commitments with me, what would they be and would I be keeping them? Then I ran into this Preach My Gospel quote by Boyd K. Packer

"'If we do not heed the gentle feeling, the Spirit will withdraw and wait until we come seeking and listening and say in our manner and expression, like Samuel of ancient times, ‘Speak [Lord], for thy servant heareth.’ (1 Sam. 3:10.)” (“The Candle of the Lord,” Ensign, Jan. 1983, 53).

The Lord does do what we do in a way. When we don't listen he has to step back, but the second we come seeking him and willing to change he is there to help us and we will be granted a greater portion of His spirit which brings us happiness.

Well, I hope you all have a great week! Stay cool ;)

Times Are A-Changin': 6/22/2015

This week went by so incredibly fast. This week was crazy because our Mission President, President Hermansen came to say his goodbyes. He will be returning to Idaho after serving for 3 years over the missionaries in Reno Nevada and we will be receiving President Chestnut soon.

Some of President's closing council to us (and I wish I brought the paper so I could get it correct) is:

"When life gets hard, which it often does. When things go wrong, which they often do. When life seems unfair, which it often is--Remember who you are. You are a child of God, the most powerful being in the universe."

Life gets hard, things go wrong, and it often is unfair, but it really is just part of our mortal test and everything will be made right in the end. God, our loving Father, will see to that and give us comfort while we face the mountains we have to climb.

These are things I know to be true and right and just.

I love my mission and the people I get to serve here. There is nothing that can describe nor compare to the joy it brings.

Hope you have a great week!

What if you get attacked by a village of angry women?!?: 6/8/2015

Our week was packed with appointments! I love the people we are teaching so much. It has been fun working with the ward more to get those preparing for baptism integrated with the people. So much work and so little time!

But we did have an unexpected finding moment. We were walking to an appointment and started talking to this Hispanic man who was working on a water covering. We say Hi and he asks what we are doing. "We are missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We teach people about Jesus Christ and what he has done for us as well as beliefs unique to our faith." Within seconds (and we only had seconds), he told us that he was prepared to listen to us and gave us all of his contact information. We don't have much time to find but as we are obedient the Lord will not let us pass by those who are prepared and will make it possible for us to reach them.

As for my title this week....

We were in a very strange lesson. We were teaching about repentance and well, suddenly we found ourselves in a slew of random moral situations and extreme outcomes. Here are a few examples.

-What if someone falsely accuses you and they chop your head off!

-What if you lived in a bubble and never learned how to park and a mall cop gives you a ticket?

- (And my Favorite) What if you shoot down a paratrooper in Vietnam and the next thing you know you are being attacked by a whole village, a whole village of women nonetheless. What if you get mobbed by an angry village of women!!!

It was an interesting moment. But that's what life is for! The lesson turned out alright and it's all good.

Hope you all have a great week!

I got to wear an exact replica of one of Clint Eastwood's belts thanks to a traveler through at the Cowpoke Cafe. Super cool.

Here's An awesome object lesson for repentance involving random sauces and cornflakes! I showed Sister Liddle and naturally she then had to "practice" on me. Yes. This is what missionaries do before bed.

Another picture to perfectly describe missionary work in Nevada! Gotta love the country.