December 8, 2014

This week was out of control! So much happened! I will try my best to remember and tell you all! It is also a blur because I was sick a majority of the week. IT WAS AWFUL. I never want to do that again.  Ugh.  There has been something going around lately and so many people have been out sick as a dog.  I felt like I was knocking on deaths door. Not cool Robert Frost! But I am better now and I we back out working like wild animals.  \

Last week I wrote about visiting a less active woman and how her active husband came up to Sister Black and I told us that our visit was one of the best visits his wife had had from missionaries and to come back.  We went back earlier this week and got talking with the two of them and Cliff, the husband, began to tell us his conversion story.  After he was baptized they had a stake conference and a General Authority was coming to visit. As a new member he didn't really know what that meant so he didn't pay any mind to it.  He said that at the stake conference he sat pretty far in the back with a friend of his in the church when the General Authority walked in the room. Everyone stood as he walked to the stand.  He leaned over to his friend and asked him why they were standing.  The whole while watching the General Authority walk up onto the stand.  The General Authority stood on the stand then started walking down the isle straight to the back of the gym and turned right into Cliff's isle and shook his hand and said, " I understand you are a new member of the church.  I would like to personally welcome you into the church and hope to speak with you after."  Guess who it was?  BOYD K. FREAKIN PACKER! Yeah that is right! Cliff Holmes got choked up as he was remembering the feelings and emotion that came over him at that special moment in his life.  He had the opportunity to meet privately with Elder Packer on multiple occasions and spoke to us of the amazing and incredible spirit he felt.  He told us there was no denying that he was a man of God and held Priesthood keys.  I was so touched by his story.  That experience took place over 40 years ago and the feelings he had were still so visible.  He told us that it was those experiences that held him to the church when things got rocky and he questioned his faith.  And that is exactly how we need to be in order to stay strong.  We must remember.  We need to reflect and remember on the tender moments the Lord has given us throughout our lives.  Because it is those experiences that the Spirit can make manifest to us again of the truthfulness of the gospel. that God loves us and that His Son Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.  I hope to never forget the amazing experiences I have had while on my mission.  And it will be those experiences that I will rely on when my faith begins to shake.  The Lord does not give us spiritual experiences and manifestations just to strengthen our faith in that time but for the rest of our lives.  May we never forget!

Great Falls comes alive at Christmas time! It is awesome! Every year they close down Central where all the shops are and they have fun activities for families and all the shops are open and have fun sales or things to get people in their stores and it is just so much fun.  Everyone comes.  A man in one of the wards in the stake owns one of the stores down town.  He hasn't found anyone to rent it so he decided to have the missionaries help him in setting up his store for the Christmas Stroll.  We brought down two of his big plasma TVs, couches and Christmas tree.  His wife owned a craft store so she had LOADS of Christmas decorations.  The goal was to set up the store with He is the Gift playing on repeat and Mormon messages about Christmas playing on the other TV and to get people in by handing out free hot chocolate.  We spent two days decorating the place, and setting up a window display.  We had 18 missionaries in town come in to hand out hot chocolate and just talk to everyone.  We had 3 tables filled with pamphlets and pictures of Christ. We got members to donate some of their pictures of the Savior to help decorate the store. IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS.  We had over 1300 people come through the store for free hot chocolate and missionaries were talking to people like CRAZY!  I got a couple of people's address and numbers.  Missionaries were outside the store holding signs and handing out pass along cards and singing Christmas Carols. And get this! I was talking to man and when I finished I got up and saw a family from BOZEMAN! That's right! My ward in Bozeman.  Sister Coltrin came up and gave me a big hug and we caught up with everything.  Her daughter was playing in the symphony so her and her husband came down and decided to go through the stroll.  It was a tender moment for me because my biggest fear is that no one from Bozeman would remember me and if I were to ever go back, no one would even think twice of me being there.  But seeing Sister Coltrin was such a tender mercy for me. They said they missed me singing with them in their home. :) Oh tenders.  Also Larry Albert came to the stroll....made my life. I was so happy he came.  But all in all the Stroll was a huge success.  A member posted some pictures of me on facebook in action spreading the good word of the Lord. haha it was cool.  

We also had Christmas Zone Conference this week.  PRESIDENT MECHAM IS INCREIBLE.  That man.  For each Christmas Zone Conference it is a lot of singing.  And I got to accompany everyone.  It was really cool to do.  The arrangements of what we did were awesome! I loved it.  I am so happy Sister Mecham asks me to play. Practicing is such  a release for me.  I also accompanied a couple missionaries in a musical number they did.  Woot! Woot! Those piano lessons are really paying off Mom! But President Mecham spoke and spoke about facing your fears.  I wish i could just record him speaking.  The way he says things is so powerful.  But he spoke about fear and how we need to stop it.  hahahaha it was awesome.  He said to act, and do! The Lord would bless us and we would see miracles.  Love. Also let's please address the fact that you picked the most disgusting and most embarrassing photo ofALL time to have put in the slide show.  OHMYGOSH! I had like 7 million people come up to me after and say, " Hey Sister Moline....I liked your picture." hahahahahaha so embarrassing.  Everyone's pictures were cute little baby pictures or family pictures....and then there was me.  Dad...I know that was your doing. You will never be forgiven.  

I still ahve so much to write! AH! Basically I love this area.  We had the ward Christmas party and I feel so at home here. I feel like this ward is my family.  There is so much love and so much support for missionaries in this ward.  I love it. I hope I can finish here. I will be so heart broken when I leave.  Gentry came to the Christmas party and really enjoyed it as well as a less active named Nikki! AND! Penny Burkstrand came to the party as well! WOOT! She came to church last week for the first time since Feb.  The ward saw her and pounced.  It was awesome to see the ward step in like that. 

A recently reactivated member in our ward, Debbie, has a friend she works with that said she wanted change in her life.  She gave her friend out number and we had a lesson with her on Wednesday. I spoke to her the day before to set up the appointment and Debbie called us later that day and said Jenna told her she felt the spirit as we spoke on the phone and knew that this is what God wanted her to do. The lesson went perfectly.  The Bishop's wife came to the lesson and did a phenomenal job.  We taught the restoration and when it got to the apostasy she stopped us and said, "Well does it come back!?  Does God ever bring back the power?"  hahahaha JENNAAA! YES! WE got to Joseph Smith and talked about having a prophet today and she was like. "this just makes sense to me.  No other church has this?  Why doesn't any other church have a prophet?"  hahaha we invited her to baptism! And she said yes, no doubts.  January 3rd.  She cried, we cried.  It was great. She has been through so much and has hit rock bottom and has nowhere else to turn.  On the way home the Bishops wife told us taht she sat in the car and was like, "I am so happy! Why am I so happy?"  And she asked her if as a member she still felt happy like that, if that lasted.  It was awesome.  Butttttttttt we found out she doesn't live in our stake.,......BOOOOO! I am so bummed. I can't even tell you.  Almost distraught.  But she lives with some psycho man and is trying to move.  SO we will try and get her to come to our side.  Cross your fingers. 


So all in all this week was very eventful and a lot of things got done.  This Christmas season I am so pumped to go out and talk about Christ with anyone and everyone. I want people to feel of the love of Jesus Christ and to know there is so much more! A woman in our ward bore her testimony yesterday.  She is older and has some mental disabilities. She is really soft spoken and can easily be overlooked. She said in her soft tone, I know I have a lot of friends here, because they hug me when I come here. I am proud to be a Mormon because I know I am loved."  That is what this is all about.  Loving people! People need and want the love that this gospel brings. And we are teh people to bring it. I am so thankful that I get this time just to love people.  It hit me at the Christmas party that I will never get to love people like this ever again.  I will never be able to have someone's progression and someone's life become the full focus of my time and life.  I will never be able to just show up at people's homes unannounced and talk solely about Jesus Christ and tell them that they are loved 24/7.  I won't ever be able to do this again.  I know that I still can do all of those things, but that is all I do right now. And when I go home life gets in the way.  I love my mission.  I love it so much. It has taught me so many things and helped me become so much more.  I can say that I have changed.  I am still me and I am still super weird, but I know who I am. I know my Father in Heaven on a much different level than I ever thought possible. I love this gospel. It means the world to me.  It has changed me and I have seen if change people.  I LOVE IT!

ALSO! Lindsay Shwendiman's sister just got her mission call to the Billings Montana Mission! She reports in January! INSANE!!!!!!


LOVE YOU! 

Sister Moreeeen

  LARRY ALBERT

 Look at me trying to be creative with the snow.

  Sister Black and I!

 SNOWWWWW

 The Christenots!

 The Hickmans!

These pictures do not even depict the coldness and how much snow there actually is.

December 1, 2014

Is it seriously already December? I know I say this all the time, but seriously....where has the time gone?  Sister Black goes home in 13 days!!!! 13 days! Weird. So weird. I am getting so nervous for my new companion.....

Okay first off I must inform you of Mr. James Tilley who was baptized in Missoula.  Elder Holland taught him after I left and he told me that he is completely active, completely free of smoking, broke up with his devil girl and is faithfully attending church and preparing to go to the Temple.  That's right.  I have never been so happy in my life.  I LOVE HIM!  I think after hearing that it just helped me understand that I did my part.  I followed the Spirit and did what I needed to do. 

Thanksgiving was fantastic! The Hickman's were adorable and we helped them make Thanksgiving dinner.  It was really fun and we played Scategories afterward.  I OWN! Hahaha Poor Sister Hickman is from Florida and has never really seen snow in her life.  hahahaha

This week weather wise has been out of control.  It snowed one day, then the next it was 50 degrees and everything melted.  THEN the next day it never got above -3 degrees.  It was that way for the past two days.  But today is a little warmer.  The snow is so cold that it just falls apart. It doesn't stick at all.  Driving around it looks like powdered sugar.  This weather definitely makes me thankful that places like Texas exist.  

Earlier this week I just got so frustrated with everyone we were working with.  I came here with 4 people on date...none of which made their date. And our investigator pool has been slowly decreasing.  I was getting so tired of people blowing us off and not even trying. Before, probably when i first was out, I would have worked my tail off to get someone who blew us off to be interested. I would have figured out their concerns and been their for them and tried my very hardest to help them through. But now, I just want to find those prepared! My time is running out and I don't want to waste any time that I have.  Plus, I was getting so sick and tired of people saying they were willing to meet, but only to not show up to our appointment or call and say they needed to reschedule. I talked with Sister Black about it and just started to cry! I was so embarrassed. Hahaha, but I was getting so frustrated.  But I want to find those that are ready to accept the gospel - people that are really ready.  I expressed my frustrations in a maybe not so dignified way to Elder Holland and he had me read a talk that has changed my life. The talk spoke about how we do not teach. The spirit does.  And it is our job to be a worthy vessel for the spirit to testify and speak to those that are ready.  And we will know.  As we use the scriptures, work by the Spirit we will know those that are ready.  The talk also spoke about being a challenging and testifying missionary.  Meaning challenging people to live the gospel boldly, expecting people to accept and testifying like there is no tomorrow. I am so at the point. I just want to go up to people and ask them if they want Jesus in their life and if they don't, move on.  hahaha I don't want to waste any time!!! 

AND THEN! Larry Albert.  That man is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.  HE GETS IT.  He is one of those that is prepared and knows what needs to be done.  I will be one sad lady when I have to leave Brother Albert.  We read a chapter out of the Gospel Principles Manual and read about Faith in Jesus Christ.  When I first mety with him didn't feel like he had faith.  But after we read that chapter I asked him how his faith has increased since meeting with us.  And he said, "I have had it all along, I just didn't recognize it."  He held up the Gospel Principles book and the Book of Mormon and said, I don't know what I would be doing without these....I LOVE YOU LARRY! I JUST LOVE YOU! 

ALSO! on Friday we went to  Less Actives house where we taught the grandmother and her two granddaughters.  Misty is 19 and Lela is 28 and just got married 2 weeks ago.  Lela is pregnant with twins and I explained our role as missionaries and how we help people increase their faith in Jesus Christ and their relationship with him and asked if her and her new (non member) husband would like to study with us.  She said she would and they would be at church. Lo and behold All 4 of them came to church! ALL 4! I have been trying to get them to go since the day I got here! I literally died.  I was so happy. AND THEN! Another woman who was baptized in February and hasn’t been back to church since came to church on Sunday.  We met with  her the night before and invited her, AND SHE CAME! AND Karl and Becca who I haven't communicated with in 2 weeks came! BECCA CAME! SHUT UP! Is the world about to end or something? She only has been to church once and hasn't shown an interest since.  I was blown away.  Sister Black was speaking in church and we made them big eyes at each other in awe that so many people came.

After Church a Brother in the ward came up to Sister Black and I and said that the visit we had with his less active wife was such a positive experience and asked us to come back again.  TENDER!   

Even though I felt I was doing nothing in this area and that no one was progressing God sent me a little gift to let me know that yes, things are happening whether I realize it or not and I am fulfilling my purpose here.  I am thankful for a Heavenly Father that loves me.  

GET THIS! I found out that Brother Bailey got a mission call at 19 to serve in CLEAVLAND OHIO! His father passed away two days before he was supposed to go into the MTC so he didn't go.  BUT HE WOULD HAVE SERVED WITH DAD!

We have been showing the He Is The Gift video like there is no tomorrow.  If you haven't seen it, STOP EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW AND WATCH IT.  It will change your life.  I have just come to realize that amidst the stress and chaos of life that Jesus Christ provides us peace and understanding.  And with Jesus Christ we are safe. 

My life lesson that I learned is that we are making differences! That God is using us even when we may feel useless. People's lives are changing.  We just need to testify and challenge boldly with the Spirit.  I love the Lord. I love this work and I am in love with this gospel.

I love you all so much and am so thankful for my life.  My life rocks.  

LOVE YOU!

Moline's rock, missionaries rule!

SISTER HOLY MOLY  

 Check it out! I MADE THAT MONTANA! I am making it into a necklace! With the wonderful help of Brother Bailey

Found this on the front porch of someone's house.....NASTY

Found this on the front porch of someone's house.....NASTY

November 24, 2014

The Lord is good and brought me warmer weather this week. In fact I am not even wearing boots or tights right now. HALLELUJAH! Oh, by the way can we just talk about how Christmas is a month away. WHAT THE HECK.  This is all just so strange.  But for Thanksgiving we are going to two dinners thus far.  Woot! Woot! Packing on my winter insulation.  We are going to a young married couples house with the Elders and an investigator and a ward missionaries home with her husband and two kids.  The poor couple have no friends or family here so we will all gather together family-less and friend-less in hopes to fill the hole in our hearts.  Ha.  But I am excited for mashed potatoes and pies and food food food.  

By the way I had multiple people bring up to me how Molines are in Montana.  Let's figure this out! I want to find my kin here! 

This week went by so stinken fast.  Unbelievable.  Every transfer the zone leaders, and sister training leaders get together in Helena for a meeting to discuss the needs of the mission, the worries of the mission president and what we can do to uplift and inspire the missionaries in their missionary service.  But, instead of gathering with the leaders in teh mission, President Mecham wanted to have a mission wide Leadership council.  So he has been traveling around the mission to all the zones and having a leadership meeting with all the missionaries.  Senior companions, junior companions, district leaders, zone leaders and stl's.  It was awesome.  Hearing President Mecham speak always has a way of motivating me to be better than I was before and do my best in every aspect of my life.  He spoke to us about a new initiative starting after Thanksgiving called He Is The Gift. The church has come out with a new video called He Is the Gift and it is phenominal. The church has bought out the banner on Youtube and will be playing it on the front page of Youtube and it is anticipated that over 220 million people will see it.  We have special pass along cards that lead people to mormon.org and other church related sites.  It will be so awesome.  It talks about helping those around us to discover the gift of Christ, embrace the gift of Christ and share the gift of Christ.  I am so stoked about it.  Also something President said really astonished me.  He said that he did the math and it takes about an average of 110 people that pay their tithing to support one missionary in this mission.  With the ipads, cars, gas, etc it takes about 110 people.  Isn't that insane?  He talked about the importance of treating tithing funds sacredly.  Dang straight! That is a ton of people sacrificing in my behalf so that I can comfortably share the gospel.  I am so grateful for tithing funds from faithful and selfless members of the church.  

After the meeting I was playing post lude music when President came up to me and put his arms around me and said, "I haven't had a chance to talk to my dear Sister Moline yet." OH President Mecham! Stop that! He is just the most wonderful person.  There are times when all I want is a hug from mom to tell me everything is going to okay and to keep pushing forward, that God is on my side.  But I am thankful for President Mecham who has been that person for me while I have been away.  Who has made me feel capable and loved and needed here in this mission. I was thinking about that today and really how I hope I can make people feel the way that President Mecham makes me feel about myself.  I want to be that kind of person for those around me. 

After the meeting I went on exchanges in Lewistown.  So good.  Those sisters rock.  I was so impressed with their desire to do missionary work and their consecration to the work.  And because of their desire and obedience they have seen so many miracles.  One of which happpened while I was there.  A woman by the name of Lori called them in tears saying she needed to talk to someone and needed some help and guidance.  Her step son was killed by a drunk driver the week before.  They had never heard of a Lori before, but sure enough she was in their area book and had been dropped.  We went over there and taught the plan of salvation.  It rocked.  ROCKKKKKEEDD! Sometimes dropping investigators is a good thing because it allows people to come to you when they are ready.  I am excited to see where this goes.  

Good news! One of our investigators, Gentry came to church on Sunday! WAAADDDUUUPPPP!!! That made my whole life.  We have been working with her for awhile and this was the first time she agreed to come.  And everyone was so welcoming and nice to her.  She participated in gospel principles and relief society.  I was so pleased with how everyone treated her.  WOOT! She is a hard investigator, but I am praying taht something will just click with her.  She feels like the church is sexist towards women......ugh.  But I love her so much! And our dinner tonight invited her to dinner as well.  So I am hoping that she begins to see and feel the difference through the members.  Gentry has a strong strong strong belief in Jesus Christ and knows the Bible like no one I have seen before.  But her strong belief is what is keeping her from accepting more of Christ's gospel. She says she prays everyday about the church and being baptized but hasn't received an answer yet.  So, pray for her and cross your fingers that she will receive her answer.  

We had a ton of people cancel this week because everyone and their mother is sick.  Including Mark and kat.  But! We found a lot of new less actives this week.  One of which was last night.  We knocked on someone's door and a man answers the door and just started laughing.....and swearing hahaha and let us in.  He said his wife and him have just moved back to Montana from Oregon and that they met with Sister missionaries weekly over there.  SHUT UP! So they set up a weekly time for us to come visit them.  Yeah.  Dats wats upppppp.  Get ready Great Falls.  All ya'll are going to be reactivated by the time I am done here. 


OHMYGOSH! I almost forgot the crowning moment of the week! Karl and Becca got married! Yes.  Yes they did.  But not by the Bishop and not at the church.  Wait for it.  They got married at Vaporology....yes. Vaporology.  Karl got one of those vapors to try and quit smoking and is absolutely obsessed with it. One of the employees got a marriage license online and offered to marry Karl and Becca in the store.  So that definitely happened.  And I definitely went.  The whole experience made me so grateful for temple marriages.  It all seemed so empty and blah.  Some random man married them in some random store. There was nothing there.  The only word I can use to describe it is empty.  A few people from church came and a friend and karl's parents came.  There was nothing sacred behind it. And at the end he said, " By the power invested in me by the state of Montana....." LAME! What about the power of GOD! So much more legit.  But at least they are married. :) That is good.  And a member from the ward took pictures for them and made them a  cake. 

I am sorry this is all scattered and crazy! I have to hurry and go.  But I love you all and hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving!  I love you! And I love my mission and the Lord and this work! I cannot believe that the time is going as fast as it is.  Never again will I be able to stand in place of the Savior to do His work.  I am ready to rock it.  Bring it on Montana! 

LOVE YOU!

Sister Moline

November 17, 2014

BBBBRRRRRRRRR!!!!! 

OH, how the cold is not for me. Ha, but I am surviving! it has gotten a little warmer this week which is nice and by warm i mean like 16-22 degrees. Isn't that sad?  That is warm! Ohmygosh. Who have I become. Haha

This week rocked though! There were two days this week where we were booked from noon to 9pm.  I LOVE days like that.  AND! We gained 3 new investigators this week. HOLLA HOLLA ERRBODY! The first! Sister Roberts.  She is the mother of a recent convert that was baptized in February. She asked us to check in on her mom and she is the sweetest woman.  We taught her the restoration and it went really well. I don't think she fully understood the priesthood though because when we invited her to be baptized she said she had already been baptized.  Story of my life.  that is the answer I get 90% of the time.  SO then we have to go back to the priesthood and explain it all over.  But she invited us over for next week. Cross your fingers. :) 

Investigator 2! His name is Mark.  He is one of Brother Bailey's tenants.  Apparently he went out with Brother Bailey to his ranch to help him with the horses and he asked a lot of questions about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith.  Later that night we taught him the restoration and answered a million questions he had.  It was honestly one of the best lessons I think i have ever taught on my mission.  He was very intrigued by Joseph Smith and said things like, "Well how could he have translated the Book of Mormon without the power of God?"  He was also so impressed by the fact that Joseph Smith died for his beliefs.  He again went on to say that he must have been a man led by God to have died for the beliefs he had.  Get out of here Mark! WHO ARE YOU! He even compared Joseph Smith's life to Jesus Christ's.  Saying that just as Jesus Christ was hated and killed for his beliefs and teachings so was Joseph Smith.  He completely understood the need for a restoration of the priesthood and he just got it.  I was so impressed.  We didn't even need to ask him to read teh Book of Mormon he said, " Well I better get on reading this then if I am going to learn about your church."  Correct mister mark. Correct.  Hahaha We are seeing him 2 other times this week :)  I have high hopes for this man.  PRAY! 

Investigator 3! One of our investigators Heather referred us to one of her friends who just lost all parental rights of her 1 year old son.  She called us and said that her friend was in need of spiritual guidance and wanted us to come over.  So we did! And it was awesome! Heather hasn't come to church but her friend Katrina did yesterday! And she loved it! YESSSS!!! We are seeing her again tonight :):):):) 

ALSO! LISTEN TO THIS MIRACLE! 

A couple weeks ago the Elders and I and my companion had another lesson with one of Brother Bailey's tenants.  His name is Dennis.  He had been talking to and asking questions to Brother Bailey about life after death.  He just recently had a brother pass away and was struggling with his loss.  Later that night we all taught him the Plan of Salvation. I forgot if I had written you about this or not.  But the man is an inspiration.  He bore his testimony to us about how he came to find God is one of the darkest times of his life.  He has an amazing love for our Savior Jesus Christ and loves talking about it.  One of the Elders invited him to be baptized and invited him like 3 or 4 different times and each time Dennis said, " I've already been baptized."  I could tell he was getting a little peeved.  But it all ended well.  He didn't show at our next appointment but two nights ago we were driving to see a member and we passed Dennis's house.  I got this small thought that we should stop by and see if he was still interested in meeting with us.  So I flipped around and knocked on his door.  He seemed a little surprised to see us but let us in.  He said, "I remember you, Sister Moline (kinda freaked me out). I have got a couple questions for you." He is kinda a rough looking guy, super sweet, but him saying that made me start to reach for my pepper spray....hahaha He asked me where I was from and then asked the names of my parents.....weird.  He said "well I will be darned! Did you know that there are Moline's in Montana!?"  He then went on for the next 15 minutes about how he has Molines in his line and that he wanted to talk to me again because I was a Moline.  He said I should ask you if you know of any Dale Molines, Chris Molines or a James Hardinbrook.  I don't know if that is how it is spelled and apparently they were big to do people in Geraldine Montana.  I told him I would ask you about it. Haha BUT that isn't even the good part.  The good part is he told us that this time of year is really difficult for him because of the death of his mother and brother. He began crying as he told us the heart ache he felt but the love he has felt from Jesus Christ. He said he was feeling really lonely and was praying to God and saying to him, "I know that you are there and are with me, but I feel so alone". Then BAM! We knocked on his door.  TALK ABOUT MIRACLE OF THE SPIRIT.  As he was telling us this he began to cry and kept thanking us for coming over and bore his testimony of his love for Jesus Christ. I asked him what he was doing for Thanksgiving and he said he was thinking of making himself a Thanksgiving dinner but that it seemed pointless. MY HEART BROKE! So I told him to forget about that and to come with us to Thanksgiving dinner.  He began to cry again and took my hand and said thank you with tears in his eyes.  No one should ever be alone during the holidays.  I am far from home and not with my family but luckily no matter where I am I will always have my ward family to lean on and take care of me.  I am so grateful for that.  So he is coming to Thanksgiving dinner!   WOOT! WOOT! For some reason he is apprehensive of coming to church or really trying to learn anything about our beliefs.  But hopefully Thanksgiving dinner will help soften his heart. 

LARRY ALBERT! I am telling ya, if there is one person I am so thankful I got to be apart of teaching on my mission, it is Mr. Larry Albert.  We met with him twice this week because of teh snow and they were wonderful! He is getting more comfortable with the people we are bringing from the ward.  I asked him if he was going to come to church and he said he wasn't sure because of his work.  He works nights and lately the girl that is supposed to take the shift after him hasn't been showing up.  So he has been getting home really late.  But this man rocks! And will still come and meet with us.  Sunday morning his ride went to pick him up but he didn't come to the door.  In the middle of Gospel Principles who walks in....that's right the rock star Larry Albert. I almost started cheering and crying.  The lesson was on Spirit Paradise and Prison. Afterward I went up to him and told him it was nice to have him there and he just said, "well I don't want to end up in Spirit Prison."  Oh you tease Larry! Hahaha you have to understand that he is super humble and quiet and sincere man, so his jokes come once in a blue moon and are pretty funny.....I guess you had to have been there.  But he said he got off work at 3am that morning and didn't go to bed until 5. But when he woke up he walked to church.  HE WALKED.  IN THIS WEATHER.  THIS MAN IS THE MOST WONDERFUL PERSON EVERRRRRR. I can't get over it.  Larry, you dawg. 

Anyway, this week was great.  I am loving life and just loving my mission.  I am so thankful I have this opportunity to serve.  The Lord is so aware of us.  I am so grateful for my knowledge of the restoration.  Lately we have been having members write down blessings tehy have seen because of the restoration and my list has gotten huge! We have so much because of the restoration of the gospel.  WE ARE SO BLESSED.  This gospel makes me so happy. I wish I could adequately describe to you how happy I am as I live this gospel every single day and give it my all.  It is so worth it.  

I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!

Love you much!

Sister Big Sky Moline

 Look at what we woke up to this morning!

November 10, 2014

GOD IS GOOD! 

OH SO STINKEN GOOD!

But before I get into the good stuff let us please address the fact that it is 16 degrees outside right now.  A snow storm came in full force last night and I wept as I pulled out my suitcase of winter clothes.  I am so not even ready for this.  Hahaha, oh Montana.  And Great Falls is one stinken windy city.  Not the best for those of us who have to wear skirts. Ha  I am still in disbelief that summer is over.  I still feel like it should be summer. But alas, we are passed summer and fall and now approaching the 400 months of winter.  Gotta love Montana.  

I feel like I say this every week, but I am amazed at the love our Father Heaven has for his children. And as of late, I am amazed at how well he knows me and hears my pleading prayers.  The past couple days we had evenings full of appointments.  But last minute they would cancel or not even show and everyone that told us they would be at church this week didn't come.  I was feeling pretty lame, I  was getting really frustrated and down on myself, wondering what I was doing wrong, and why no one wanted to see us or talk to us, blah blah blah and the list goes on.  And one thing after another happened and it sounds so sillly looking back, but I know that it was God telling me to keep my chin up and move forward.  One of which was talking to Dawn.  There is a woman we are working with in the ward by the name of Dawn and since our other appointments canceled we thought about calling her up and seeing her.  We saw a number in our phone under "Dawn" so we called it.  Turns out it was not the Dawn we were looking for, but that it was someone that missionaries had taught a couple months back.  She said, " You are the Sisters!? Well Sisters I have been reading my Book of Mormon like I have promised!"  Shut up woman, who are you!?  She had moved so we got her address and she invited us over this Tuesday. Out. Of. Control.  She is not in our ward boundaries anymore, but still.  What the heck. Another one was a family I had been trying to contact for months.  Just so happens that this night they chose to be home and let us right in.  We got to meet the whole family and they invited us back to have a Bible study with them last night.  Then, yesterday at church Brother Bailey came up to me and gave me an envelope with a poem inside.  It was just what I needed at just the moment I needed it.  It is called "He's Been There Before" By Elder Troy Whittle who at the time was serving in the Houston Texas Mission.  If you can look it up. Do it.  

This email wouldn't be complete without talking about my favorite person on this planet earth. Brother Larry Albert.  If there was any reason I was supposed to come to Great Falls, it was so that I could learn from this man.  He never ceases to amaze me with his humility and desire to know God. He was the one who came searching so he makes meeting with us, reading the scriptures, the gospel principles manual, and church a priority.  He works nights starting at 10pm and still no matter how tired comes to meet with us.  He eats up what we ask him to read and does what we ask him to do.  It is amazing what happens when people actually choose to listen to the Spirit and act.  I met this man from the beginning and I have seen amazing strides in his understanding of the gospel, his faith, and outlook on life.  He is a new and changed man because of what he is allowing into his life.  

So I read this in the Book of Mormon a couple days ago, and try and follow me on this.  Maybe I am totally off.  But it seemed really cool to me.  So in the gospel we talk about the baptism of water being the literal baptism and immersion into water and the baptism of fire being the receiving of the Holy Ghost.  I was reading in Helaman 5 about Nephi and Lehi and how they were preaching the word when they were thrown into prison. It goes on to talk about how the guards came in to kill the two of them but they were encircled about by fire.  In verse 23 it says, "Nephi and Lehi were encircled about as if by fire, even insomuch that they durst not lay their hands upon them for fear lest they would be burned.  Nevertheless, Nephi and Lehi were not burned and they were as standing in the midst of fire and were not burned.  And when they saw this....their hearts did take courage."  It made me think about how as members of the church we have received the gift of the Holy Ghost, we have received that baptism of fire. And the Holy Ghost acts as a protector and although we may not be able to see it, I do believe that we are encircled about by fire everyday.  To protect us and defend us in our daily lives.  And if we really understood the protection that was on our side, we would do as Nephi and Lehi did and our hearts would take courage knowing that the Spirit of God was with us encircling us.  Maybe I am way off. But it really hit me at that moment that we are being protected.  We are being surrounded and that our hearts can and should take courage for the difficulties we face because the Lord is with us. He is on our side, protecting us and leading us in the right way.  

I went on exchanges to Shelby this week. Shelby is surrounded by a whole lot of nothing.  It is a lonely and ugly drive out there and you just keep driving and keep driving until you almost hit Canada.  By the time I left the exchange I was so thankful to be serving in Great Falls.  In the city! Hahaha Shelby is a cute little town with a small branch.  Everyone knows everyone so it is really easy to talk to people and people are really kind.  But man was it small.  Too small.  Haha I was on exchanges with Sister Memmott.  She is such a dedicated and consecrated missionary.  I really enjoyed  being able to learn from her.  

Oh! I almost forgot! Transfer news came and Sister Black and I are staying! Woot Woot! My zone leader Elder Buntrock is leaving. He told me how old he was yesterday and I felt really old.  But Saryn! He is adorable and wonderful! You should love him.  He comes home from his mission in June and I told him I had a flaming hot sister  that could show him the ropes at BYU when he got home. Hahaha I am going to make this happen....I am so excited :)  But guess who is coming in to be my zone leader and share the ward with me.....that's right, the only other zone leader I have had my entire mission. Elder Holland. He seriously has followed me my entire mission.  6 months in Bozeman, then he came a transfer after me in Missoula for 6 months and now he is coming to Great Falls.  I obviously am not learning what I am supposed to learn from him.  Third time is the charm right?  

Well my familia! I am sorry this is short! My mind and brain are fried.  We did a lot of finding contacted a lot less actives in the ward. Pray for me and pray for miracles. I am ready to blow up Great Falls.  Let's make this happen! 

Really quick, I was reading my patriarchal blessing the morning and I wanted to share a part of it to you.  It says, " The Lord knows you.  He knows you well.  He knew you in the preexistent state and He knows you now.  he is watching over you to help you make the decisions pertaining to your life and to you situations and circumstances within your life. The Lord knows you well and He will guide you and direct you.  Pray unto the Lord. Ask for His help and His guidance in your life and He will magnify it to you and help you in fulfilling your responsibilities here upon the earth."  I was filled with so much love for the my Father in Heaven and my Savior Jesus Christ as I read those words. How true they are! The Lord knows us.  He knows us each so perfectly and knows us each so well.  Because we were with Him before, we were walking and talking and learning and growing with Him, he knows where we can be and who we can become.  I trust Him.  Even when my faith shakes at times and I wonder where He is taking me. I know deep within my heart that He knows and He just asks us to put our faith in Him and His gospel that was placed here for each of us.  I love Him.  I trust Him.  And I love this gospel with all of my heart.  It fills me with so much joy to know that I know my Redeemer and I know Him because of this gospel that is here upon the earth. 

You all are fantastic! I love you so much! Thank you for your support and prayers. I feel them lifting me everyday.  

Sure Love ya! Moline's Rock! Missionaries Rule! 

Sister COOOOOLLLD Moline

 Elder White is leaving. :( The best Zone Leaders!

 Sister Majors and me - totally normal!

November 1, 2014

HAPPY HALLOWEEN,

The time is flying by! Can we just talk about how it is already November and we just had Halloween?  How did that happen?  I feel like we should still be in summer. Dang, it went by so fast.  And this week was crazy.  It went by so fast, but at the same time I looked back on the beginning of the week and it feels like forever ago.  

So quick awkward update.  When Sister Black became my companion she was told that she was going to be an STL with me.  But apparently she is not supposed to be an STL with me.  The assistants called to ask me a couple questions about some sisters and I was like, "well you can talk with me and Sister Black since she is an STL as well..."  They were kind of awkward on the phone.  Then the next day we get a call saying there must have been some miscommunication and that I was a solo STL.  It was really awkward. So I am supposed to do exchanges all by myself....that might be rough.  But at least I am only over 4 sets instead of like Missoula where I had 16 sets.  Haha. 

Also, I love Sister Black.  She is like a breath of fresh air! We teach the same, our humor is the same, the way we think is the same.  It is wonderful.  She is a real champ. I don't think I wrote a whole lot about her, but she is the 2nd oldest of 4.  She has an older brother that is married to a recent convert.  She has two little sisters a 16 year old and an 11 year old.  And Sister Black goes home next transfer.  She talked with President and he asked how we were getting along and asked her if she wanted to stay with me until she finished her mission.  She said yes, so it is most likely that I will finish her mission.  She is from Price Utah and went to school for a little and wants to go into Elementary Education.  

I went on exchanges with the Sisters in Lewistown for a couple days.  Sister B (the love of my life)  and Sister Kupfer, who just came from Nauvoo.   It was so much fun! I have this love/hate relationship with exchanges.  I love it when I am on them, but going on them is really hard. I hate leaving my area.  HATE IT! It's the worst.  But I love getting the opportunity to help lift sister’s confidence and just praise the heck out of them, especially when they deserve it.  Sister Kupfer and Sister B could not be more opposite, but they make it work.  It was really neat to see Sister Kupfer come out of her shell and get comfortable with teaching. She has some crazy stories of protestors and anti Mormon people coming to Nauvoo.  But she said that a proselyting mission is much harder and more draining than what she was used to.  I hope I was able to help her a little.  

I have about had it with ____ and _____.  They have been frustrating me to no end recently.  Sister Black and I prayed about and really thought about a lesson we could have with them that would help them progress and help them desire to make changes for the right reasons.  Right now Becca is nowhere near baptism.  She has no desire anymore.  None.  And_____ just goes through the motions and we aren't sure where his testimony actually lies.  We feel like it is much more social than it is spiritual.  So we had this rockin lesson planned and they totally destroyed it.  UGH! My life.  We got there and _____ wasn't awake and didn't wake up for another 30 minutes.  And then the whole entire lesson he was making crude jokes, not paying attention, teasing _______ while she was reading and both of them gave us ridiculous answers to the questions we asked them.  We read 3 Nephi 11 with them and I asked what they were doing to prepare to meet God.  And _____ just laughs and says, " I am dying......get it? I am dying to meet God!?"  ______ I AM GOING PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE!  I was not having it. Sometimes I have to remember I am a missionary and not say the things that come into my mind.  I bit my tongue and said it was time for us to go.  I almost took my tag off and went off on both of them.  But, I kept my cool.  It is just so frustrating when you invest so much time and energy into someone, and they don't even care.  I think we are going to give them a  break and see where it all goes.  It makes me so sad.  But I refuse to baptize someone just because I taught them all the lessons and they answered correctly to the interview questions.  They need to feel it. They need to understand the seriousness of the covenant they are making  with God.  :(   

BUT! on a happier note! Brother Bailey had a cobbler party on Thursday and invited one of his tenants, Dennis.  Wonderful. That man is wonderful.  Earlier that day Brother Bailey gave Dennis a ride somewhere and Dennis started asking questions like, what is my purpose in this life, where is my brother who died.....yeah. Real talk. That happened.  So we taught him the Plan of Salvation and it went beautifully.  He is prepared my friends. prepared. prepared. prepared.  He is a very spiritual man that has gone through a lot in his life.  Between being homeless and having family members die, and being an alcoholic.  He has had some very profound experiences that lead him to God and have subsequently lead him here.  The Spirit was so strong in that lesson.  He was feeling it.  We are scheduled to have another meeting with him this Thursday.....with cobbler, which never hurts.  

Brenda, oh Brenda.  Pray for Brenda.  We taught her about tithing......and she was not about that. At all.  We had a recent convert, Martha Jones come to the lesson.  Sister Jones's husband is not a member nor does he want anything to do with the church.  It is the same with Brenda, so they connected really quick on that point.  So we thought it would be good to bring Sister Jones to the tithing lessons so she could bear her testimony how she was able to gain an understanding and testimony of tithing and how she has been able to do it without her husband supporting her.  But Brenda had a really hard time committing to living the law of tithing.  But understandably so.  She said they are barely able to make ends meet as it is and there was no way that her husband would allow her, nor would she be able to pay tithing to the church.  I think that lesson scared her off. She told us she didn't need a ride to church, but that she would walk. And when we woke up Sunday morning and it was snowing she texted and said she still didn't need a ride.  And she never showed.  We are going over tonight to see what's up.  I really hope that we can resolve her concerns and get to come to church.  She is so close! And this is when it really gets tough! She is so close, and that is when the adversary comes in full force. Dang you Satan! You little punk! Shave your legs!  

One of my companions always says, " SHAVE YOUR LEGS SATAN!" she went to this fireside where they were all given little cheap razors and the speaker said that when Satan was beating on you, hold up your razor and say, "SHAVE YOUR LEGS SATAN! Oh wait, you don't have any!" hahahahahahahahahaha I died. But I love it because it goes to show us that we have so much more power than Satan.  We have a body, we chose right, we are on the Lord's side. Hahah so when life gets tough everyone....just tell Satan to SHAVE HIS LEGS! 

We went to see Penny Taylor last night. OH how I love Penny Taylor.  She just cracks me up.  She is 70something and is the sassiest woman I have ever met.  So sassy.  She is a convert to the church and has a rock solid testimony. She amazes me.  She struggles in some aspects, which is why we see her, but she is incredible.  When we went over there last night, she was telling us about her family growing up.  I wish you all could come to these lessons with me and hear these people's stories. It would make your jaw hit the floor. And make you never complain about your life again.  Her Dad was an alcoholic and her mom smoked like a chimney.  Both of them were physically, emotionally, and mentally abusive.  Penny said she would cry herself to sleep as her parents had screaming drunken fits in the middle of the night.  She married 5 different times and married the same kind of guy that treated her like dust beneath his feet, she was raped as a young 19 year old girl at knife point and her own daughter was molested by her father.  I'm talking ROUGH life. And as we were talking I was overwhelmed with the Spirit bearing witness to me that God knew and she knew coming into this world that this was going to be her life.  And I could promise that God probably sat her down and said, "Penny, now  listen here, I am sending you to an abusive home, where you won't feel love, or significance and you will be treated terribly.  But I need you there because I need you to find the gospel and bring it to your family's life.  I know that I can trust you in finding the gospel.  I will be with you every step of the way, and when you find it, you will know. And you will know what to do."  And that is exactly what this amazing woman did.  She joined the church and because of her membership she was able to baptize her parents and her brother as well as do their endowments and sealings in the temple.  She bore a powerful witness to us that she knows they accepted it.  She knew they were there and they have thanked her many times.  One thing that I absolutely love about my mission is the love that I have for the people. I know missionaries say that all the time.  But it is so real! I love these people so much.  I meet them and tehy tell me some of the darkest places they have ever been and I can feel the Savior's love for them.  I am so grateful that I have this time to represent the Savior and when I say they are worth it, that they are loved beyond measure, that they have a purpose and diving gifts and abilities, that they are known and understood by God, that it isn't just what I think, but what the Savior knows about each of them.  Seriously, I leave every appointment with so much love for these amazing people. (well except for Karl and Becca at the moment....jk)  I am so blessed! I love my life!

I also got to be interviewed by President this week.  Oh how I love him! What an inspiring man.  I just leave those interviews feeling like I can do and become anything I want.  He has a way of making people feel worth it, and capable and loved.  He is just so wonderful.  At the end of the interview he gave me a big hug and told me how much he loved me.  Totes not allowed to hug.  But I guess the mission president does what the mission president wants.  Hahaha,  but I needed a hug from someone that I knew understood and loved me.  I will forever be grateful for President Mecham and what he has helped me become.  

I love my mission.  I can't lie and say it is always the best.  There are some hard days where I really just wish I could be home.  But those feelings and those thoughts of negativity are always followed by a spiritual confirmation and hug from my Father in Heaven that I am known.  I am loved. And I am where I need to be.  This gospel has changed me completely.  I am so grateful for the hard times and the good times.  Because it has stretched me to become and reach a higher level.  I love the gospel. I love my mission! 

Love you all! 

SIster Big Sky Moline

October 27, 2014

What a wonderful week! Sister Black and I did work this week.  It was out of control.  We taught over 35 lessons this week.  We were constantly running from appointment to appointment. I loovvvee it here. The people are so stinken great.

So get this cray cray story.  The Elders serving in the same ward as Sister Black and I had 4 people on date and every single one of them fell through.  They were joking together how cool it would be if someone moved here from Canada that had already taken the lessons and was ready for baptism.  Ask and ye shall receive ladies and gentlemen.  It wasn't Canada, but a man, his wife and little boy moved in from California last week.  The husband had taken all the lessons and was ready for baptism.  The wife had been reactivated through the process.  The Elders helped him move in and BAM! They asked him if he wanted to be baptized this Sunday.  Done and done.  He was baptized. Talk about miracle of the Lord.  It was one of the best baptisms I had ever been to.  He is so solid.  A recent convert of a year spoke at the baptism and man was that powerful.  So good.  Ah! I want a baptism!!

Brenda,  is the love of my life. Oh my goodness! She is so dang hilarious.  She calls me her baby girl, and always talks about how well groomed we are.  Hahaha she has a grandson that is 18 and she always tells us that she wants him to come to her baptism because she wants him to look at the Elders and how well groomed they are.  She is like, "oh my handsome grand baby would make such a good Elder! I just want all my family to get baptized. It would be a huge swimming party with Jesus!"  No joke. Those were the words out of her mouth. I died.  We gave her a church tour and she absolutely LOVED it.  We showed her the painting of Jesus getting baptized and talked to her how he set the example of what we need to do and she began to cry.  She said, " That's what I am going to do.  I am following Jesus."   Oh Brenda! You adorable little thing! After the church tour she attended the baptism and was a mess. She cried through the whole thing.  She kept introducing herself to people as, " Hi, I am Brenda, I am getting baptized November 8th."  Hahahaha I loved it.  She started calling herself Sister Wetzel.  I am obsessed with her.  But she has so much desire.  She recognizes the Spirit and has such a great desire to follow Jesus Christ.  It is amazing.

We found a new investigator this week.  Kandace has a good friend that lives in the same apartment complex as her.  We met her and talked about the Book of Mormon and set up another appointment with her.  To be honest, going into it, I was not expecting a whole lot.  This woman has been to prison many times,  is on probation, had her daughter taken away from her because of how she was living her life and claims to be Wicka.  Or something.  Basically witch.  Weird.  I am ashamed that I made complete judgments so quickly. I have not taught such a powerful lesson with so much of the Spirit in a long time. She soaked it all in.  I guess when you have been so engulfed by darkness the Spirit brings an entirely different feeling and emotion that has been so long ignored. We recited the first vision to her and she just sat there staring at the picture we had of the First Vision.  We asked her what she was feeling and she just sat there.  No lie, we sat there for a good 1 1/2 -2 minutes in silence as she tried to process what she was feeling.  She finally broke the silence and looked at us and said, "I have no words.  I cannot explain in words what I just felt"  I went on to explain what she was feeling and bore my testimony of the Joseph Smith's experience.  I was so moved by the Spirit that was in the room that I got choked up.  It was the first time I had ever showed emotion as I was bearing my testimony in a lesson.  But I could not doubt what we felt in that room as we bore testimony of God's love.  His perfect love for all of his children. Regardless of your age, sex, culture, background, and the person you once were.  He loves us.  He loves us so he sent us his Son and gave us the restored gospel.  A prophet, and apostles, the Book of Mormon and the Bible.  We are so loved.  I was so overcome with what I KNEW to be true. No one can take that away from me. Because i have had too many instances in my life and on my mission for me not to know it was true.  AH! The gospel is the good life! I love it.

Larry Albert. Again....another love of my life. He is the most remarkable person.  Like I have said before, we read the Book of Mormon everyday together. We invited the Gilletts, recent converts of 2 years to come to the lesson with us.  Brother Gillett and Sister Gillett are in their 60's and Brother Gillett is now the 1st counselor in the Bishopric.  After 2 years....dangggg.  Larry is a very soft spoken and humble man. He has opened up to myself and my companions about the concerns that he has.  He wants the Book of Mormon to be true.  He reads it everyday, but he sometimes wonders if it is for real. The Gilletts without even knowing his concerns addressed every questions he asked us.  The Spirit filled that room like no other.  Before we started teh lesson he pulled me aside and told me of some issues at home he was facing.  He said he was thinking he needed to give all of this church stuff a break while he figured things out.  My heart fell. NO LARRYYYY!!! NOOOOO!!! But after the lesson with the Gilletts, he got it.  That man has some serious faith. Especially coming from the home he lives in. 

We were also able to get back into a couple people's homes and start teaching them again! And we were able to find a couple potentials.  Holla! Holla!

I am sorry this email is so short.  But I heard a quote yesterday at church. "He is not waiting for us to be perfect.  Perfect people don't need a Savior.  He came to save his people in their imperfections.  He is the Lord of the living and the living make mistakes.  He is not embarrassed by us, angry with us. He wants us in our brokenness in our unhappiness in our guilt and our grief."  I am happy I am an imperfect person, because it gives me opportunity to have a Savior and to know of His goodness and grace.  I love Him and I have grown to know Him.  He is my Redeemer and my best friend.

I love you all!

Love,

Sister Big Sky Moline 

October 20-, 2014

I had to take a new profile picture for my Facebook.  And I just want you all to know that I have such a  strong and ever deepening love for the Book of Mormon.  It is true.  Within it's pages I have felt God's arms encircle me.  I have found answers to my prayers and above all I have found happiness.  A happiness that I have found no where else.  A happiness that cannot be duplicated.  I love the Book of Mormon. I love it's truth, I love reading God's words and knowing through my studies I am one step closer to becoming all He wants of me.  I love Him and I love the Book of Mormon.

Little Miss Kandace!!  Love, love, love her!!!

 New facebook profile!

 My Book of Mormon next to a new one!