Oatmeal Cream Pie

Sup in the 614!

This week I have a new companion!! Her name is Sister Manns!! She is
also half black! We get a long really well and have similar style:) I
got lucky:) I'll attach a pic:)

We have a baptism coming up this week! On March 4, 2017 Myanna is
getting baptized!!! We are excited for her… We have been only teaching
her for about two weeks before elders taught her. I think I explained
more in my last email. She is eight years old and a ball of fun. It's
so amazing to see little kids make the decision to be baptized at such
a young age. They understand the covenant they are making and the promise
they are making between them and God. It warms my heart.

This week sister Hopkins went home :/ but I am happy that she is home
with her family. I am sure she misses being a missionary but is happy
to be home. I am now the designated driver and I've been in the area
the longest. I am just so excited that I get to drive!!! Finally:)

I have been reading in the Book of Mormon about Captain Moroni and the
Title of Liberty.  I find captain Moroni so intriguing.  He is a boss.
Captain Moroni followed the directions of God and was prepared for
battle against the Lamanites. This makes me think of putting on the
"Armor or God." If we follow the commandments of God, we will be
prepared and the and the adversary will not be able to "sneak up" on
us. Alma 49:7&8

I love y'all! I love the Gospel and don't know where I would be without it!

Banana Pancakes

Yo yo yo.

This week has gone by pretty fast. Sister Hopkins leaves tomorrow! So
I will for sure be getting a new companion. I will find out later
today who that will be :-)

This week I have been focusing on being courageous and submissive.
Trying to please others before pleasing God is for the weak of faith,
a major stumbling block. Don't be afraid to offend when doing
what is right. I have learned to have courage to stand up for what I
believe in. The Savior always faced hisFfather. He loved and served his
fellow man. But he died not wanting honor from them. "Not my own will
but the will of the father which has sent me." John 5:30.  Christ's
amazing and inspiring example helps me to stand up for the Father and
gives me the power to never cower from the intimidation of any man.

Matthew 6:24, 3 Nephi 13:24
"The guilty taketh the truth to be hard for it cut of them to the very
center." 1 Nephi 16:2. This is something I constantly have in the back
of my mind when we are teaching others who defend their sins and
mistakes. I am not hear to judge I am here to be a guide those who
are humble enough to change.

Understanding which way I face helps me understand my true and full
potential. Missions are hard!  We are rejected and often misunderstood.
But I wouldn't change any of it… Even if I could… Because when we have
moments of success it makes all of the hardships worthwhile. Those
rewarding moments come from the spirit. When the spirit touches a
heart/soul for eternal good. My potential is great! Untapped.

It will not be easy, but when was anything worth it easy?

"Satan is the master at making sin look appealing to the undecided."
-someone unknown haha

We are still teaching the Walters family. They weren't able to come to
church this Sunday but we had a really good lesson with them
yesterday:) I love them so much! They are set to still be baptized in
March, they just need their mom's permission. They don't live with her
but she is against the Mormon religion and doesn't approve of her kids
wanting to be baptized. She says that they are too young to know what they
really want. It's really sad to see a parent who doesn't want to
accept the desires of their children's hearts. Especially being as
pure as they are. But we continue to pray and hope that their mother's
heart will be softened.

We have been teaching a young girl named Mayana. She is seven years
old. Even though she would technically not be a convert if she was
baptized when she turns eight we are still teaching her because her
parents aren't Mormon. She turns eight on the 25th of this month. She
understands so much and as a desire to be baptized on March 4th. She
is amazing...everyone calls her my mini me. We are very similar in
many ways...including looks:)  On Sunday Sister Hopkins gave a talk, so
she was sitting up on the stand. I was sitting alone with Mayana. A
couple who I haven't met in the ward yet thought I was her mom. They
asked me..."you're such a cute mom! Where is her father?" Hahahahahaha
I was like, can't you see my tag? I'm a missionary teaching Mayana.
Not her mom hahaha. Always embracing the awkward.

We are teaching a lot of people who are needing guidance and
Christlike love in their life. It's so amazing to be surrounded by so
many humble people! I love being a missionary!!! ❤️

Hope y'all are having a good week! Xoxox

Assorted Chocolates!

Happy Valentines Day!!! (Tomorrow)

This week I got 4 Wendy's gift cards from members!!! Let's just say my
love for Wendy's is spreading around the whole mission!! Lol 😝
💕💕👏🏽

This week was great! We are rounding up all our investigators. We have
been teaching a Less Active fir a while... his name is Tony Maston.
Well we've been looking for his records for some time now. He was
baptized when he was 10 but can't remember anything about the event
and has been inactive since he was 11. We have been teaching him all
the lessons and just found out he can be re baptized!! He is set to be
baptized mid March!! However, his wife is a devoted Lutheran. Wphes
trying to get her permission to be baptized!

Alyssa and Allison are still progressing! I love them so much! They
are also getting baptized in March! So much success comes from Fast
and Prayer!! I know that to be true! I have definitely gained a
testimony of Fasting on my mission.

This week I have been focusing a lot on patience. And the Power of
patience! Often, I hear investigators ask foolishly, “How could God do
this to me?” when really they should be praying for strength to
“beareth” and “endureth all things.” The greatest scriptural examples
of patience are found in the life of Jesus Christ. He endured that
excruciating night in Gethsemane as He asked God in His atoning agony,
“O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me:
nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39). He
truly suffered and bore and endured all things. And when He was nailed
to the cross, Christ continued in His perfect example of patience as
He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Wow.
What an amazing example Christ has set for us. I have learned that
Patience is a gateway virtue. It contributes to the growth of its
fellow virtues of forgiveness, tolerance, charity, obedience, and
faith. ETC.  When Peter asked Christ how many times he should forgive
his brother, Christ replied, “Seventy times seven,” rather than the
original seven times Peter was willing to forgive. To forgive seventy
times seven certainly takes a large measure of patience.

I know I must be patient as I wait for the miracles to come as I
continue to pray for them. We can all pray for opportunities to share
the gospel and to be a light and an example and to others. No matter
if we have a missionary name tag or not. We have so many tools such as
social media... Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, blogging, texting,
Snapchat, you get the picture. We can use these tools to help hasten
the work and send messages and pictures and videos to people to help
uplift them and bring them closer to Christ. What a blessing God has
given us to be able to reach out to anyone at any time all around the
world. We as missionaries, have been inviting all to use social media
to help bring their fellow brothers and sisters to God.

I love this time to be a missionary. I have learned so much! And I
continue to Learn, I just need to be patient and the blessings will
come as I continue in faith.

If you are like me, and struggle being patient… Pray for patience and
I can promise you the Lord will help you. Even if it means testing
your patience by giving you a hard trial. I know without a doubt you
will grow and receive the answer to your prayer. I know, because I
have. Always be willing to forgive 70x7:)

HOT Wings and Chips

So I used to love Sunday night Football. I will say now...that I hate
the Super Bowl. We went out proselyting last night, and it was so
frustrating! I Only say that because everyone who answered their door,
was angry because we were interrupting the football game. All they
would say was "what do you want I'm watching the game." And our
instant response was "What we share is more important than Football."
Then they would close the door hahahaha. No one wanted to listen. It
was a rough night. But I am still grateful to be a missionary...I am
just not a fan of Football as a missionary lol.

This week was awesome! We have been teaching Sisters, Allison (age 16)
and Alyssa (age 13!) there are set to be baptized on Feb 18th!!!!  I
am so excited to be teaching them. What an Honor that God has trusted
me to bring to the Gospel to the youth!! What a great calling I have!
We have been asked to help the youth use social media to help reach
out and spread the Gospel. Face Book is such a great tool. I invite
you all to find someone who may need an uplift and send them a direct
message via social media and let them know that God is aware of them,
and that you love them as well:) I promise as you do so you will be
blessed and will be able to help others feel peace and comfort in
their life.

We had a World Wide Missionary Training about a week and a half ago.
They changed the missionary schedule all over the world. We have more
time on preparation days to email and have time to prepare for the
week to come. 2 extra hours!! But on the other days of the week, lunch
changed from one hour to a half hour which made me sad because that's
when I practiced my French. :/ but bed time has changed from 10:30 to
9:30!! I am so excited! More time to sleep!! 💕🤗🤗

For the month of February I am focusing on revelation through Prayer.
I know how important it is to pray and increase our relationship with
God through prayer. Prayer is essential as a missionary! I have
customized an outline to help me with my prayers.
1. Tell the Lord the desires of my heart.
2. Promise him what I'll do to bring to pass the desires of my heart.
3. Give him a time frame of when I will do these things.
This has helped me be more specific and direct in my prayers. If we
ask specific questions we will get specific answers. I know that to be
true!

I have learned on my mission to change the way I pray. To pray more
for others, and ask for miracles! Doing that has increased my vision
of success on my mission. I have more faith and trust in God and are
more willing to be exactly obedient.

Ether 12:27 -  weak things become strong.

Thanks to everyone the support and love!!

New address:
66 Coronado Drive
Pataskala Ohio, 43062

1. Alyssa and Allison
2. Last months News Letter. Columbus Mission had 22 Baptisms the month
of January!!!!
3. Zone Ladies