I may or may not have received a 4.5 lb bag of hot tamales from my mini missionary for my birthday.....I love my life  3-24-14

Sister Memmot, Sister Adams and I. I went on exchanges with these lovely Sisters this week.  STELLAR MISSIONARIES

                                                          Sister Session, my little Asian.

                                        
Sister Greefield, Sister Storrs and I with a replica of the Golden Plates at Zone Conference

March 24, 2014

OH, I just love you all so much! You are all so wonderful! 

RIGHT ON RYAN WHITE!!! That is so awesome! When does he report?  Also John Harvey has been gone for a million years.  I bet he is happy to be home.  So dad, you asked for me to elaborate on my living arragement here.  So I was with Sister Baird living with a member, then moved back with Sister Session where we also lived in the basement of members.  BUTTT their contract thing was up for housing missionaries, so we moved to yet another member's house.  They are really sweet.  It is a couple in their 60's? I think?  So they have no one at home or anything. They blocked off a hallway that has a bedroom, bathroom and a study room for us.  They are really sweet. 

Anyway, this week was wonderful! We had zone conference on Tuesday.  I got to see Elder Coleman ( an Elder in my first area ) again. He is hilarious and we became good friends in Bozeman, so I was happy to see him again.  But the whole conference was about the Book of Mormon.  They split us into different groups and had our groups read 40 pages from the Book of Mormon and by the end of 40 pages, collectively we had read teh whole Book of Mormon.  It was totally what I needed at the time as well.  I have been focusing on how I can improve my teaching so I have been reading in Preach My Gospel the section all on the converting power of the Book of Mormon. It inspired and motivated me to be better with using the Book of Mormon and knowing my Book of Mormon better so I can use it.  

Thursday I went on exchanges again.  Sister Session and I went with Sisters in the Missoula 5th ward. There are two sets of Sisters there so we each took a set. I was with Sister Adams and Sister Memmot.  What stellar missionaries.  They work like dogs going to find people and teaching.  They have 2 people on date to be baptized and are planning on putting 4 more on date this week. WHAAAA!?  Right on! Sistaaass! But really.  Sister Memmot is hilarious. I don't evven think she means to be.  She is a quirky girl with a dry sense of humor.  She introduces herself like, "Hi, my name is Sister Memmot....like memmot, memmot (she says is like a frog going, ribbit ribbit)"  I DIED! I DIED! I was not expecting that! OHmygosh.  And Sister Adams is INCREDIBLE.  She has had severe depression since before her mission that caused all of her hair to fall out. She has no eyelashes, eyebrows, and is just starting to grow some hair on her head.  She has to wear a wig everyday.  That girl amazes me.  Her testimony is so powerful.  When she testifies of Christ and the Atonement, there is no doubt that the Spirit is in the room.  She is so positive and works hard.  I interviewed her and she just says what makes her happy is doing what the Lord asks of her. She is just wonderful.  Hahaha Sister Memmot and I were saying how we really needed to pluck our eyebrows and Sister Adams was like, can I do it?!  I don't get to pluck my own so can I pluck yours?  Kinda weird, but I was all about it! Hahaha so we bonded over plucking eyebrows. hahaha just the sweetest sister. 

While I was with them we met with an investigator of theirs. I am in love with him.  His name is Will Williams.  He has the most gnarly mustache of all time, that sold me right off the get go, and he has super long hair.  P.S. this man is in his 60's. So he has long curly grey hair about shoulder length, he wears a beret glasses, a corduroy blazer and suspenders.  I was absolutely in love with his style and it sold me when he answered the door and saluted us and said, "come on in Sister dudettes"  YES! We taught him the plan of salvation and he agreed to be baptized. RIGHT ON! WOOT WOOT! 

So the we had to cut the exchanges short because I got a call from Sister Drama's companion.  Sister Drama was with Sister Montjoy, and there was another set of Sisters, Sister Newell and Sister Silata.  So last week they just swapped companionships. Sister Drama with Sister Newell and Sister Montjoy and Sister Silata. Confusing, I know. All you need to know is that she is with a new companion.  And her companion, Sister Newell, called me and said that the day was going great, they were planning and then Sister Drama snapped and she was refusing to get out of bed and wouldn't talk to her.  OHMYGOSH! WOMAN!  We went after dinner with the intent to take Sister Drama's Ipad from her.  We got there and she is in bed with the covers pulled over her head and I tried talking to her and she ignored me.  I tried talking nicely to her and getting her to tell me what happened. But she wouldn't move, she wouldn't aknowledge us being there at all.  So I asked her where her Ipad was and that we needed it.  No response, so I told her that she could either hand it over or I would go through her stuff until I found it........that did not make her happy attttttttt alllllll.  But hey, it made her talk to us! hahaha  Out of control man! Out of control! After her yelling at us and having to hold Sister Session back from punching her in the face we got her to talk about what happened.  She just didn't like her companion and felt like her companion would get upset with her over the dumbest things so she decided to give her something to really get upset about. CHILDREN! OHMYGOSH! CHILDREN! So she talked to us for forever and then I brought in her companion and we conducted something that we call a companionship inventory. Each week along with our weekly planning you are supposed to have companionship inventory where you talk about eachother's strengths and then discuss things that may be hindering your companionship.  So we did just that.  I had Sister _____ say things that her companion does that help the work and help the companionship and I made Sister Newell do the same thing and then we talked about what was hindering the growth in their companionship.  Luckily we were able to iron out a few things and come up with ways to resolve the conflicts.  I am telling ya, if only girls would freaking communicate with one another, none of this would ever happen.  So that night was exhausting.  Poor Sister Newell. One of the issues was that Sister Newell likes having companionship prayer before bed. You don't have to do it, it is not required, but I can see why she would want to do that.  But Sister Ayala refuses to do it and doesn't see the point and gets mad when she asks her. I am never having girls.  Ridiculous.  

SO! Are you ready for some more drama!? After that episode we had a lesson with James.  We were planning on teaching him the Word of Wisdom. We go over there and his wife, Gracie is there.  James was so excited to have a lesson so we started teaching when Gracie stops us and says that she needs to let out what is on her mind.  Basically for the next 2ish hours she voiced to us that she doesn't want James to be baptized.  She feels like it would make their marriage unequally yoked.  Their marriage is rocky and she said that she wants to stabalize their relationship before he starts throwing a new religion into the mix.  She said she could compromise and let him come with us to church one week and with her to church the other week.  When I asked if she would be willing to come to church with him she flipped.  She started yelling at me and started crying and all this crazy stuff. And said that she knew a lot more about us mormons than we think she does. That she knows all about our temples and what we do in there and our under garments blah blah blah. When Gracie goes off there is no turning back. I just sat and listened to her as she yelled.  James said he loves Gracie but he also loves the church.  He said that he loves the man he is becoming and is ready to take that next step to baptism.  Gracie told him that he could still go to church even if he wasn't baptized and that we would still meet with him and fellowship him.  She got so upset with James and us that she left the room and said he couldn't go to church on Sunday.  I wanted to cry. Especially with how emotionally exhausted I was. But I stayed strong and didn't.  After Gracie left he room James looked at us and saw our pamphlet we had out and asked if that was the next lesson and if he could still read it.  I went and apologized to Gracie told her that I appreciated her telling us how she felt and speaking her mind.  As we left James told us he was going to call us in the morning.  He did and said that he didn't care what Gracie said, she didn't understand and he wanted to go to church.  James bought a white shirt, two ties and black slacks and even did his hair for church. When we pulled up with our member to give him a ride, he looked so good! And church could not have been more perfect for him.  All the hymns were Do what is right, and choose the right.  Sunday school was all about baptism and he had questions about the atonement and the speakers all spoke about the atonement.  James told us that he still was going to be baptized and nothing could stop him from that decision. I am INLOVE WITH HIM! JAMES IS SO SOLID IT IS UNREAL! 

Dad, you asked about how it is to be married to someone with MPD. Their relationship is really weird.  Not like a marriage really, more like good friends.  And Gracie doesn't change all the time.  It's weird, it is definitely a mental thing, but I was asking someone and they said that MPD is rarely diagnosed because most times it is not real. And Gracie is not technically diagnosed.  It's like playing pretend a lot of the time.  No one comes out unless we get talking about one of her personalities.  So she mostly stays Gracie.  But I have met her alters Ashley, Izzy, Maggie, and Kris.  It is hard to explain.  

Other than that I think that is all that happened this week.  I can't believe this month is almost over. Where the heck did March go? Next week I will hit my 7 month mark and will already be in my 8th month of my mission! I seriously have no idea how that even happened.  

I love you all! Until next week! Prepare for some crazy stories!

LOVE YOU!

Sister Moline

                      Why yes, that is a dead deer on someone's porch. NBD. Hello Montana.

                                      Birthday package lovvvveeee! WOOT WOOT!

                                   Oh hey, just an Elk pelt....just chillin.....nbd. (no big deal)

                                   The Penrose family  They are the best!!

                                  The Penrose family put this sign up for my Birthday.

3-17-14

OH HELLLLLOOOOOOO!!!  Just so are informed and aware, I am now a legal human being so you can take what I say to heart. I aint no child no more! hahahaha My birthday was great! It was very busy and kinda stressful with how much we had to do, but it was good. I got home on Satruday night and I had two packages just waiting to be opened but I held back and waited till Sunday morning, but Sister Session couldn't stand it, so she looked at them before we went to bed. Hahaha I do really like her. I was weary at first, but we get along well and have the same work ethic and ways of getting things done which is so nice.  But I got a plethora of mail for my Birthday so it was wonderful! I don't know the members in this ward very well yet, but somehow the word got out and our dinner that night surprised me with a cake and decorations. It was really sweet of them. I will send pictures.  I loved the weird lemon bar things and the snickerdoodles and all the delicious fooooods! Thank you! And I have a few things I will be getting with that money! Thank you:) I am excited. Sister Session's birthday is on Wednesday so we are going Birthday shopping :) WOOT WOOT! Sister Session llooves shopping almost as much as me hahaha. We are meant to be companions.

One of the best presents I could have gotten on my birthday was that James, one of our investigators, came to church for the 2nd week in a row and agreed to be baptized on April 5th! We weren't aware that was general conference weekend, so we might have to change it.  AH! I am so excited. I went on exchanges with some sisters in Stevensville (Sister Greenfield, my trainer....awko taco, and Sister Storrs) so we weren't able to do all that we wanted to this week, but the Saturday and Sunday I was here we rocked it and taught a lot. That was something I was worried about with this new calling was not being able to focus on our area as much. Especially with 6 sets of sisters that we are supposed to go on exchanges with each transfer. That's an exchange a week.  BUT! It was amazing to see how even when we were unable to work in our own are that the Lord blessed us for fulfilling our callings.  I came back on Saturday and put James on date, he came to church and attended a baptism that day.  He looked at me and Sister Session after that baptism and said he couldn't wait to make this convenant with God and to be cleansed to Christ. AH! I love him.  I kinda wrote about him a few weeks ago.  So James is Gracie, MPD lady's husband.  He is the sweetest man I have ever met.  Just so gentle and kind.  He has had a terrible, traumatic life.  He was raised in a home where his parents were dealers and died of overdose, he was pushed out of a window that caused him lifelong brain damage.  The poor man has had no stability in his life or known how.  He has turned to drugs and alcohol his entire life but has come to see the negative effects it has on him.  We gave him a Book of Mormon and he has read it every night. He told us the other night that reading the Book of Mormon has given him the courage to do the right thing, and to stand up for himself.  Graice and some of his friends invited him to come out with them, and he told us that he knew that drugs and alcohol were going to be there. And he said that he wants to be baptized and he knew if he went, he wouldn't be able to.  Our lessons with him have rocked! He feels the spirit and wants to change.  He prayed the other day and I wanted to cry.  His prayers are so personal and like he is having a conversation with a good friend.  He pours out his heart to God and you know that He is listening. AH! Just wonderful.  It was a challenge for him to go to church, but he wouldn't let anything get in the way.  I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!  He is awesome.  James is awesome.

Okay so awkward week.  I went on exchanges with Stevensville with Sister Greenfield and her companion Sister Storrs.......I was really nervous about going because Sister Greenfield was my trainer and now I am coming to stay with them to see how they are doing and make sure they are doing what they are supposed to.  She wasted no time in telling me that she thought it was all weird and embarrassing.  I did my best not to make it weird and I honestly had a great time working with her again.  I interviewed her and she cried as she told me that I have been her only companion where she feels like she could be herself.  She has had many different companions and she explained to me that she has felt like she has had to change for every companion because they don't get her and don't like her.  It just broke my heart to hear her say that she doesn't feel loved and accepted. She has also been out 11 months and still has no sign of her visa. She has grown to love Montana but she wonders what she is doing wrong to not be able to go to Brazil. AH! I did the best I could to console her. And Sister Greenfield is not someone that wants to be told how wonderful she is and be hugged.  She just thinks that talk is crap talk, I know this from our companionship, and I learned that quickly.  So I was pretty blunt and bold with her, but she responded well. By the end of the exchange she told me she was really happy that I was the one who came. I got the feeling that it was not by accident that I am her Sister Training Leader. She has trouble opening up to people, but we already have that trust built and established.  I really enjoyed going though, because I got to see them teach and use the Spirit. IT WAS AWESOME. Both sisters have no idea how inspired they are.  I sat in on a few lessons and just observed and I was so impressed. I was like, I need to be taking notes. Sister Greenfield is so good at teaching the person, and addressing their needs.  Ah! It was wonderful.  There are some truly incredible people in this mission,  Sister Greenfield definitely being one of them. I love her. 

The place they are serving is the most adorable place on this planet earth.  I could not get over how adorable it was.  It was a tiny town where everyone has goats, and horses and cows.....LOTS OF COWS! And I even passed by a llama farm and died.  The people live in the woods and chop their own wood and make everything homemade.  The nearest Wal Mart was like an hour away.  We had ice cream at this awesome little diner, and ate at a family owned café.  Everyone knows everyone and it is totally normal to just start talking to people walking around. I was obsessed.  We even went to visit a Less Active man that breeds hundreds of rabbits and eats them! HE EATS THEM! AH! CRAZY! And we were walking to another Less Active and he just had a huge Elk pelt laying in his front yard like no big deal.  ALSO there is a place near Stevensville called Pinesdale.  It is a polygamist colony and if Sisters step foot in that town they are immediately sent home! An older couple in their ward moved out of Pinesdale and joined the church. They had to be interviewed by an apostle to get permission to be baptized. They have the strongest faith and testimony in the world. IT was incredible to talk to the two of them and hear a little of their conversion story. They basically believe in all that we do, the Book of Mormon, temples, Joseph Smith, but they still practice polygamy. I was so intrigued by all of this.  I can see why we aren't allowed to go, cuase I would have been there is a heart beat. Haha Interesting stuff. 

That same girl that had issues last week, ran away from her companion again......if it were up to me I would shoot the girl. Just kidding.....It is so exhausting though. And her poor companion can't work and is getting so tired of all of this.  Crazy girl drama.....its outta control. 

It sounds like this last week was awesome! I am so happy you sent all of those pictures! I loveeeeed them! I am praying for Grandma and fasted twice this week and she was included both times. I love you all!

Well my family! I best be going. I can't think of anything else that happened this week.  I love you all so much!  

Peace out girl scout!

Sister SLEEEEPY MOLINE

                              On the snow day! All the missionaries in the insane blizzard shoveling the snow!!

                        Sister Baird, Sister Session, Sister Bakly, Myself, and Sister B at Elissa's baptism.

                                   Sister Session, Sister Bakly (the mini missionary) and Sister B!

3-12-14

The Sun has shown itself once more in Missoula! Life is good! The days are longer and I am so ready for spring.  Alas, I hear that Montana pulls your tail and gets you excited for spring and then snows again....boooooo.  But at least there is sun! It is amazing what the sun can do for your mood.  

Sorry I didn't email on Monday. This weekend was very long and very stressful and Sister Session and I couldn't email on Monday due to that.  Saturday we had a baptism of an 8 year old girl that Sister Session and Sister Bakly had been teaching which was exciting. It went really well and there were many Less Actives and non member family and friends that came.  Afterward we got a call from the Zone Leaders informing us that a Sister from a companionship left her companion and walked all the way back to their home and locked herself in her room and refused to come out.  We were asked to take care of the situation, so we drove the hour to these Sisters area.  We spent all weekend there with them trying to sort out the issues and problems these two sisters were facing.  Needless to say it was a very stressful time.  We got there Saturday and didn't get back till 1:30am and then ended up having to go back on Sunday because another problem arose and we stayed until Monday.  Why can't we all just get along! Ha and then we came back on Monday and two other Sisters pulled me aside and were either having personal issues or companionship problems.  It was very overwhelming. Ha, but we were able to take care of most everything and for the most part everything is taken care of. 

On Tuesday Sister Session and I and our zone leaders went to Helena for Mission Leadership Council.  Which is basically all the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders coming together with President and Sister Mecham.  We talk about the mission and discuss things that need improvement and how that can be achieved.  We found out that our mission is the top baptizing mission in the United States by 300% DATS WHATS UP! It was a really neat experience to be able to sit with 40 other missionaries that actually wanted to be here and that have dedicated this time of their lives to their Lord and Savior.  The stake President from Helena came and sat in on the meeting for a little while and when he got up to leave he was so overwhelmed by the dedication of these missionaries and the spirit that they carried with them.  It really was an amazing sight to see these missionaries striving to serve not only the people in their area but genuinely care about the missionaries they were over.  Both President and Sister Mecham got emotional near the end of the meeting and thanked us for our service.  I came from that meeting, on top of the world.  It was an amazing contrast from what I was having to deal with previously to those I was with at this meeting.  There came a lot of power knowing that we are not all doing this on our own.  We are all striving for the same goal and we all are experiencing hardships together.  Watching President and Sister Mecham gave me so much more respect for the two of them and knowing what they have to deal with on a daily basis.  What an emotionally taxing job they both have.  We split up Sisters and Elders and Sister Mecham spoke to us and as tears ran down her face she bore her testimony that there is nowhere else she would rather be than here.  It bore a powerful witness to me as she spoke knowing hours earlier she was on the phone with Sister Ayala and talking to me and Sister Session about how to deal with this issue.  I am sure they have many sleepless nights worrying about many of the missionaries.  I am so thankful for them.  I am thankful for their service and their dedication and love of the Savior.  

I am leaving tonight to go on exchanges in Stevensville.  Sister Session and I cover the Missoula zone and the Stevensville zone with a total of 15 sisters! Hahaha It is going to be hard to keep up our own area as well as fulfill our calling as STL's and go on exchanges with each set of missionaries.  Sister Greenfield is in the Stevensville zone so that will be interesting to go on exchanges with her.  I am a little nervous, but I know that the Lord has put me in this calling to uplift and inspire his missionaries.

Also, a guy came up to me in a gas station yesterday and asked for my number...hahahahahaha if only he knew I was a nun.  Haha once he saw my name tag he backed off pretty quickly. 

We taught Gracie last night.....ohmygosh.  She told us about 10 of her personalities.  We tried teaching the Plan of Salvation but that definitely did not happen. Hahaha she changed into her two year old alter, Izzy.  I am at a loss of what to do there....It was sad to listen to her explain how she came to be diagnosed with MPD.  She has had some pretty traumatic things happen in her life and she uses this disorder as a coping mechanism.  The best way I can explain it is it looks a lot like a child playing pretend.  So interesting. It really is quite intriguing. 

Miracle of the week! We received a referral from a lady in Sister Session's last area.  Her husband was at the pre release here in Missoula and she asked us to go visit him.  We did and he was very excited to see us. He couldn't meet with us that night, but was more than willing to set up another appointment and even asked if he needed to bring along his Bible.  Ha, we got talking with him and he has a lot of potential.  I am so excited to teach him! I miss teaching investigators! WOOT! Tender mercy of the Lord!

I am so jealous of all of you! It sounds like you are all having a blast skiing and seeing everyone! I too am an advocate for the Tanner and Mackell campaign. Let's make that happen por favor!  

I love you all so much! This is the Lord's work. I am honored and see it is as such a privilege to be out here as one of His servants. I love this gospel.  I know I say that all the time, but I really and truly do. I love it with all of my heart.  I don't remember if I told you or not, but my stake president in Bozeman once talked to us as missionaries about how in the church we say a lot of "i know"s. " I know that families can be together forever," or "I know this church is true" and since the Holy Ghost can only testify of truth we need to be careful in what words we choose to use.  The words, " I believe" are just as powerful to use. And as we testify of things that we may not have come to a complete knowledge of, but we believe in the Holy Ghost can better testify of the truths we have spoken. It really got me to think of what I "know" to be true and what I merely "believe". I was thinking about that the other day and I can with confidence say that I know that this is the restored gospel Jesus Christ on the earth today, made up of prophets and apostles called of God. I know that Joseph Smith did nothing more than what we are asked to do on a daily basis and saw God the Father and our Savior Jesus Christ. I know my Savior and I love Him.  I know that God has a plan for each and every one of His children.  I know that. I have a firm testimony that there is a plan greater than we can imagine that God has laid out for each and everyone of us.  He knows what is going on in our lives and He is involved. He is in the very details of our lives. It is so interesting how even when everything in the day may seem to fall apart I see the hand of God in the smallest thing.  He is aware. I know that to be true. 

I love you family! You are amazing and I am so grateful to have you all on my side cheering me on! I love my mission and I am so thankful that God has trusted me to come out here.  Although I have a million weaknesses and I am no where near where I should be, he sees me for who I can become.  I love you! Until next weeeeeek! 

Love ya!

The Moline Machine

3-3-14

HOLY SNOW.

I thought last week was a lot of snow....I spoke too soon.  Missoula has had record amounts of snow this week.  They have gotten 40 inches just in the month of Feb. alone.  THAT IS OUTTA CONTROL MONTANA.  Our house  is at the bottom of two hills so getting out is a joke.  We tried leaving one morning this week and totally got stuck, another man coming down the hill got, stuck and then another woman driving up the other hill got stuck.  So Sister Baird and I pulled out our shovels and started digging everyone out and pushing the cars.  One man was out from 7 am to 11 just snow blowing the road, because there was so much snow and the snow plows only did the main roads, so none of teh neighborhoods were plowed. We later made cookies and brought them to him and his family thanking them for helping out the neighborhood.  It was fun haha it made for a fun adventure.  We got stuck about 7 other times after that though...then it wasn't very fun. Ha The University and all the schools shut down and all of Missoula county closed early.  THERE WAS EVEN AN AVALANCHE! WHERE AM I LIVING???  It was non stop snowing everyday this week.  A blizzard came through on Friday and as a zone we decided to get together and shovel.....joke.  Haha it was so bad when we all got together that there was no point in shoveling.  The wind was so bad.  So we hung out at the institute and watched Mormon messages and ate pizza.  Haha that was the worst of it.  It has gotten better since then.  But man oh man. Outta control.  Montana is a mess.  Sister Baird and I one of the days just walked around town and shoveled for people.  My arms are looking pristine.  Haha The Poulsens were in Puerto Rico this week and kept texting us to make sure we were alive and okay haha Brother Poulsen just made fun of us...the punk. Haha

So transfer news! You thought there wouldn't be anymore changes?  FALSE haha we got transfer calls this morning and I am staying in the same ward, but I will be companions again with Sister Session again and Sister Baird is getting a new companion and still staying in the ward. I think that makes my 3rd transfer inside this one transfer. I am going to just live out of my suit case for the rest of my mission. Our Zone leaders are getting transferred and Elder Holland, my zone leader in Bozeman is coming to Zoo town! He has been in Bozeman his whole mission! An entire year in one area....cray cray. But I am excited to work with him in Missoula.  

SUCCESS THIS WEEK! So Sister Baird and I went to find some Less Actives on Wednesday.  We went to find a single woman and came to find out that she was living at her step sister's mother's house and has since moved.  Her step sister, Gracie, answered the door and through conversation we found out she was getting evicted and needed help packing up her house, so naturally we were all over that.  A huge sigh of relief came across her face and she hugged us and told us we were a God sent.  Ha so the next day we went to help her pack.....holy nasty. She lives in the basement of a house with her best friend Jenny.  The place is disgusting. She has two cats and the house was covered in cat hair and all over the house there was cat poop and pee.  The basement doesn't have a kitchen  so they do their dishes in the bathroom.  There were dishes piled all over the floor in the bathroom and in the bathroom sink.  But we went to work and we got a lot done.  We got to know Gracie pretty well as we were helping her out and I just really like her. haha We clicked from the beginning and she opened up to us about her life and experiences that she has had.  She was in a terrible accident last August that caused some brain damage, so she has a little trouble finding her words,but other than that is just the sweetest, most caring woman I have met here.  She also has Multiple Personality Disorder.....hahaha BUT SHE IS AWESOME.  She says she has about 30 alters  but I have only heard about one that she talks about Hahahhahahahaa she is kinda cooky, but I really do love her.  We went back later in the day to continue helping her and she started calling us her "Sistas" and said to us that she wanted to get together outside of packing her home because she really liked talking to us and felt really happy when we were there.  Hahaha oh Gracie thank you for opening up that door :) haha  We went over to her mother's house last night to see her and met her husband, best friend Jen (who lives with Gracie, we helped pack her room as well) and Jen's Fiance.  They all were so sweet and nice to Sister Baird and I. All of them have at one point had to seen a specialist because of various mental disabilities that they suffer with but I can't even begin to appropriately describe the feelings I had with each of these people last night. They asked a lot of questions about missions and the logistics of it and we were able to introduce the idea of prophets and what we do as missionaries and our purpose.  It was awesome.  We ended up talking about Christ and each of them bore testimony of the role Christ has played in their lives and as they were speaking I looked around the room and knew without a doubt that their Savior knew each of them.  Although they have had many traumatic, and terrible things happen to them in their lives, although they have spent time in a psych ward and have some serious mental disabilities, their Savior knows them and I felt so much love for them. It just was a witness to me that God is no respecter of persons. He doesn't care who you are, what you have done, or where you have been, he just wants us home. And I am ashamed to say this, but back home I would have just steered clear of these people and I hate that I would have been that way. These are God's children despite every judgmental thought I would have had.  I don't even really know Gracie, but I love her.  When all of her friends left the room we got to talking with Gracie and she told us about her relationship with her mom and how there are pictures of her brother and his family but none of Gracie, or pictures from her wedding anywhere to be found in the house. She explained her relationship with her husband and how right now it is fairly rocky but she is trying to pull through.  She broke down in tears and looked at me and said, "I don't feel loved in this home Sister." The spirit was so strong at that point and the love that our Father in Heaven has for her just poured over me. I knew and know that she is known by her Father in Heaven.  I think I may have found my Rhenon.  

Jen's fiance is all about learning about the Mormons. He wants us over for dinner and when we offered to come over later today to teach them he said he would love to be apart of it.  He even said he wanted to come to church with us.  Right on! Right on! 

So that is my miracle of the week.  I survived a toxic home, but met some of the most incredible people. 

Another family I need to tell you about are the Bollingers.  They are an older couple in the ward with rock solid testimonies  Brother Bollinger is disabled and is unable to go to church on Sundays and his wife just stays home with him.  We are meeting with them weekly to teach the lessons to them.  This week when we went over to their house we taught them the restoration and I swear I learned more in that meeting than they did.  The whole hour we were there they just bore testimony of the restoration of the gospel.  They are both converts to the church and Brother Bollinger is a recovering alcoholic and he was able to bear testimony of his conversion and healing through the gospel.  He is a collector of tons of random stuff and he gave each of us an envelope with some random things he has collected.  He gave us a piece of fools gold, an unpolished emerald, an unpolished ruby, and coins from the 1900s.  He told us that the fools gold represents other churches hahahahahaha and the unpolished emerald and ruby represent those that we find and when they understand the atonement and are converted to the gospel they become polished gems hahahaha. He is so cute.  It was such a tender mercy to talk to these sweet people.  It was a rough day and just listening to their testimonies just showed me that they are why I am on a mission.  I need to find them. 

I also was nasty sick on Wednesday.  Being sick on a mission blows.  But I am better and so happy I am alive. 

Mom, I am glad your finger did not fall off....dad sent me pictures...YUCK! Hahaha 

BIRTHDAYYY: I would love pretty blank note cards and pretty letter writing stuff! And stamps....I would love stamps.  ummmm Another white wonder tee would be cool.  But I won't die if I don't get one. I just want a cheap binder from Target, so like $5-$10  And maybe $20 for a bag OH and money to print pictures from my mission! But that is all I can think of. 

Have fun skiing this weekend! I am so jealous!! Have so much fun! ALSO I am so proud of little baby Saryn getting into the celestial kingdom of all universities! Tell the Nally's at the MTC I say hello and thank you for all that they do.   

I LOVE YOU! 

Have such a fun week! And send me pictures of everyone! 

Till next week!

Sista Crazy cool pants

                                                         
                                                                   Sister Baird and me