STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM

Hello my dearest family and friends,

To find out the reason behind this title, you will have to read on....

I hope you've all had a great week although I bet it wasn't as great as mine because I spent mine serving the Lord in Potosi, MO! 

HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Sister Goeller: Sister Goeller is probably one of the greatest humans to ever step foot on this earth. Picture this: 5'10'' lady, slightly insane, has her phone dangling from one of those repelling clip things on her jeans, and has a PRAYER ROOM with pictures of Jesus taped all over the wall. Clearly she is legit. Anyway, she is a less active and we go visit her and read from the Book of Mormon (the usual). Well we were visiting and she just kept cussing. Hahahah but then she would say, "well... at least I didn't say THAT word..." classic. too classic.

2. We chalked the Plan of Salvation in the park! Maybe people went and looked at mormon.org after they saw it, or maybe they didn't, but to make myself feel better, I'm gonna say they did. 

3. Sis T and I were driving jamming out to MoTab (the usual as well) when we got a text saying we got a referral!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay people that is not real life. Good things like that don't happen to us very often so I literally just froze and was like "uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I think we just got a referral......?" So we're all freaking out and excited so we call the referral lady to see where this guy lives. Turns out he lives two hours out of our area. Heart wrenching but it's fine. We made some Elders' day by giving them the referral since it was in their area. Charity is one of our strengths :) 

4. Lix: Lix is basically Nielson's frozen custard's twin. And it's right by our apartment. SO GOOD I JUST CAN'T STOP. Don't worry, we go on brisk walks every morning to work it off!!!

5. The Wall: hahahahhahahahha okay so we go to lunch at this chinese buffet every Wednesday with our ward mission leader. He is the greatest. So anyway, I had heard some horror stories about the great wall restaurant so I went in expecting it to be straight up nasty but............... I loved it. And I'm like so embarassed to admit that because everyone makes it out to seem like the worst possible thing but I just can't hide my love for it. It's like when you love someone that no one wants to love but your feelings for them just can't be hidden. Yep, that's how I feel about The Wall. I'm in love I'm in love and I don't care who knows it!

6. MISSION CONFERENCE: wooooowwwww this was probably the greatest part of my week. Elder C. Scott Grow came and talked to us about missionary work (duh) but more importantly how our ward councils should revolve around missionary work. Okay no lie my mind was blown the entire day. And I got to see some of my MTC peeps. Shoutout to Hulme, McCubbins, and Hawkes. #districtFAM

7. Betty: Sweet Betty is a recent convert who is like 68 and super sick. Everytime we visit she says how she just wants God to take her home! Sooo yeah that's always a little awkward but I love her. She gave us $40 to go get three things for her from the dollar store. THREE. Literally her total was nothing but she wanted to make sure we had enough money hahahah bless her heart.

8. Taco Bell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We went to Taco Bell for dinner on Saturday and it just filled my heart with joy. I know my family is rolling their eyes right now but just like with The Wall, my love for Taco Bell can't be hidden. Sister T loves it as much as I do so you can say that this companionship is definitely blessed. 

TEACHING:

1. Rose and Steve: They came to church yesterday!!! It was so great. On the way home Sis T and I were like "oh they are sooo getting baptized" and like fist bumping each other. Our cockiness got the best of us because we went over to their house to talk about church and all they said about it was that they were BORED. Ha. What. Okay I think I just sat there and didn't even know what to say to that........ but they said they will go again! So that's good. They are so awesome and really would be amazing members. They are always receptive of the messages we share with them so just keep praying that they can feel the Spirit when they go to church again! Oh and they sent us home with half a meatloaf and some italian beef? Our apartment smells like meatloaf but I don't care because free food!

2. Carolyn: Okay... here's the deal with Carolyn. I love her so much but she is not keeping her commitments so we may have to drop her which is no fun! We taught her about keeping the sabbath day holy and she totally agreed with everything we were teaching. She said that she would come to church and we told her we had a ride for her but she wanted to drive herself. BUT she didn't show up! I was so bummed! Hopefully we can meet with her this week and figure out what's going on. She's so awesome though!

3. Julie K: sweet sweet Julie K. She wants to be baptized so bad but she needs to get a divorce first. The only things is, she doesn't have money for a divorce? I don't know how that all works but long story short, she can't get baptized right now. But we continue to teach her because her desire is there! We taught her the Plan of Salvation and she was way into it! Keep her in your prayers... she is a cute lady! Oh she also has a little dog who sat on my lap the entire lesson. I know everyone is laughing right now because I AM NOT A DOG PERSON! But everyone here has dogs so I've had to get used to it. I will send a picture of me holding her dog. Yes holding the dog. Hence the title of this letter, started from the bottom, NOW I'M HERE. Miracles, people. Straight up miracles.

4. We went and tried this potential investigator's house. His name is David. We knocked and his two daughters answered. One of them looks like and talks like Holly! I dont know... there is something special about that home and family. I want to teach them so badly. I know that Heavenly Father led us there for a reason and I hope that it's because they are prepared to hear the Gospel. Keep David and his daughters in your prayers that their hearts may be open to our message.

It has been a great week! We tract a lot and tracting has now become like one of my top fears haha it's not my favorite thing but that's how we find people. I never would've thought that I would sign myself up for something that forced me to share my beliefs and talk with random people!!! But here I am and you know what? I LOVE IT. I've been thinking a lot about why I'm here. There are days when the work is hard and it's 5839209384 degrees and I wonder why in the world did I ever sign up for this! But, in those moments I like to reflect on why I did choose to come on my mission. I am here because I received an answer from my Heavenly Father that He needed me to go bring others unto Christ. It is so comforting to know that I am doing God's will for me. That knowledge gets me through the hard days. If I was out here for any other reason, it would be so much harder. But, because I know that being out here in the humid land of Missouri is God's plan for me, I am filled with hope and joy. Whether He is asking you to serve a mission or get married or continue your education... HE IS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER. He knows what is best for you. Yes it can be so hard to submit your will unto His (trust me I know), but I can promise you that if you will do it with a smile on your face, that He will bless you. 

I love you all and keep you in my prayers each day. I'm so sorry BYU lost this weekend... maybe I wasn't as obedient as I should've been...jk...but for reals dang. Hopefully they can pick themselves up! 

Remember who you are and what you stand for and remember to turn to Heavenly Father!

XOXOXO ALWAYS!