Author Archives: Joy

Out on a WIM #62

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#62

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RI AND CHELS(Emily calls Kelsey Chels sometimes.)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kelsey Jo! It’s your birthday and I love you so very much!
Ok so thanks for the email everyone!
And thank you so much for the pep talk! You made me cry! Honestly I needed it this week even more than last week so I am glad that you sent me those things.
SO this week was quite good. We are still unable to get members out with us… It’s a process! The work this week was slow.. Suddenly lots of tings (things) are falling through and a lot of our progressing people have decided to drop us or not progress and stuff. It’s been a little bit tricky! But nevertheless, there is always good in everything!!! The Lord is blessing us and I feel of His love everyday. I am so absolutely grateful for the gospel in my life. It is my rock.
Something really interesting happened this week… And by interesting I mean sad… So! We were teaching this family, A man named L. and D. and their kids. We love them bad and saw so much potentially in them. Everytime we left we’d always say “awww they are such a fun family, I can picture them being such a strength in the branch and the dad being the new BP(Branch President)” and stuff like that! Their cute kids would just come gather around for lessons (which is rare here)! Anyway long story short there had been a couple of miss communications and we went to see their family and we knocked on the door. The mom came around to the side and started yelling at us and said some mean things and said that we had offended her and that we were vicious people. She then came after us and threw the Book of Mormons/Books of Mormon/Copies of the Book of Mormon at us and then threw them on the ground………. We didn’t get the chance to say anything. Honestly and truly we cried for a little while. Then I decided we need to discuss what we can learn from this..
Things I learned from this experience: We always have to be really really really careful the things that are said. Even if you don’t say something bad it could be taken that way. From this situation it broke my heart to know that we had hurt her. It didn’t matter that she was saying mean things. I was sad because I know she needs the gospel. It broke my heart to see something I love so much as the Book of Mormon, the word of God to be thrown on the ground. I will always remember this experience and I am grateful to Heavenly Father for giving me so many opportunities to learn and grow and to become better through Him.
I am so grateful to be a missionary! There is nothing more in this world that I’d rather do than to serve the Lord. I was reading from Alma 8 to Sister S. after our experience and we were like “hey Alma was feeling the same way as us… And at least we have not gotten spit on yet like he did!” Haha! What a blessing. Also every night we say five things we are grateful for and that helps us remember the good things through out the day!!!
Ok so update: There are still sisters coming here and I am for sure going to St. V.! I will get you the address and let you know all of the details when I find them out!
Sounds like you guys are having a blast up at Bear Lake and I am glad you brought me along! (Kelsey has a shirt with a picture of Emily on it)
Mama thank you so much for your words. You are the best mother I could ever ask for. I always say when we find young people here whose parents don’t take care of them “I wish I could take them home so my mom can help them” You have always been, are and always will be a wonderful light and example to me. You really are my special friend. I love you always! Have a wonderful week and keep being amazing.
Pops: I am glad you are having fun up at Bear Lake! Thanks for your love and prayers! I am doing just fine and dandy! Just keep swimming right?! Anyway all is well. This will be my last week here in this area. I will miss it but it’ll be a nice fresh start for the next sisters! Love you daddy thanks for erything.
As for the rest of the week I will be getting everything ready for the sisters and also packing up my stuff for the second to last time. Next time I’ll be packing to go home!! AHHHHHH what!!?? Anyway it’ll be an awesome week. Thanks for all you do and for your prayers!
Let us all press on in the work of the Lord!
Love, Sister Emily

Family History Friday: Indexing!

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What is indexing?

Indexing happens after:

1- A document is scanned and prepared for the indexing program. If you want to be an indexer, you can download the program for free here.

2-You download a batch of records and then type the information you see in the records. Someone else is working on the same records. Then the an arbitrator looks at yours and the other persons to see if there are any mistakes.

3-The arbitrator clears up any information that was typed up differently.

4-The name and data are added to the FamilySearch database, where everyone in the world can see it and do research on their family.

5-Someone finds information about their ancestors in Family Search.

6-They perform ordinances for their ancestor in the temple.

What a blessing to those who do genealogy and family history research. They can find the information they are looking for much easier than if they had to search the whole document, or source to find what they need.

Those who do indexing are heaven sent! If you would like to find out more about it, and watch some videos and tutorials, check it out here.

Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

Everyone Has a Twin?

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IMG_0309We were at a dinner recently celebrating our niece getting ready to serve an LDS mission. As we sat around in a group eating, I noticed this friend of our niece (the guy on the right).

I said to family, “Hey, he looks just like Corver, as a grown up! Don’t you think?”

They all agreed!

So we had to take a photo, because this is amazing. Maybe we really do have a twin somewhere out there in the world!

Out on a WIM #61

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#61

Woah! Hey mi familia! How are you all? From what I hear it sounds like you are doing so great!!! 🙂

Well……………………..…………………………………….. this week was very interesting. So we had heard that there was not enough sisters and so he had to send us out. But I just found out that there are going to be sisters coming here to replace us… So he is “blanking” the area… The only sad part is that this whole week we have been trying to figure out how to split the area and I have been getting the area organized ready to hand it over to the Elders.. But now that all changed! That’s ok. Whatever the Lord sees fit.
Ok so honestly now I am not really sure if I am actually going to St. V.. I might be but I am not sure! All I know is that I am leaving. So. I will let you know when I find out for sure. But I wouldn’t write any letters for here in because I will be gone in two weeks.
The Branch is still the same! We are struggling to get members to come out teaching with us… We had one member lesson the whole week. So this week was a little slow on numbers because of how busy we have been. I may or may not have felt a little discouraged last night after totaling up the week. But then I prayed and prayed and read from the scriptures and watched a mormon message and I felt better after that. I know Heavenly Father is proud of what I am doing and I am doing my best under a lot of pressure.
Yes I did get a bag! I don’t know how long it’ll last.. Everything here doesn’t last that long.
Sister S. is from a small town in Guyana . She is a doll. She’s actually not feeling well right now 🙁
Crazy things from this week:
We walked all the way from very far, from one town to another!!!!!!!!!!!!! You probably have no idea how far that is.. But it’s far!!!!!!
Ummm… there really isn’t much to report on this week.
Thanks to one and all for your prayers and things you do for me. I hope everyone has a great week and that we all continue to recognize the Lords hand in our lives 🙂
Love always, Sister Emily

Sunday Best!

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“Today are we suffering the greatest of all the tests and temptations that we have ever been given?  The test of gold and affluence and ease, the like of which no people of any generation have ever experienced.  We are going through that today.  Is it necessary for us to be warned more than the Lord has warned the people in times past? That people who are slow to listen to the counsels of wisdom will have to be tried by pestilence, by famine, by earthquakes, and all sorts of destruction before they’ll be humble enough to listen to the the words of God?”– Harold B. Lee

Hope your Sunday is the Best! Love, Joy

A Beauty Appointment…For the Dog!

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I took Tayzie in to the groomers. She was a mess! We don’t mind giving her a bath every now and then, but we don’t want to do the rest.

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Tayzie hopped in the car, for a ride.

By the time we got to the groomers, she was not so sure about the car ride. I carried her in and told them how to trim her, and left. Four hours later I get the call, “She’s ready!!” As I waited for them to bring her out, I read the sign on the counter.

photo (12)I don’t have any problem paying the professionals for grooming the dog. 

photo (15)Isn’t she pretty? I think so!

Tuesday Adventure!

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We had a wonderful Tuesday!!! After a wonderful visit to the Bountiful Temple we drove to Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City! It is one of my favorite places in the world! I love the feeling you get when you step onto the square. There is definitely a lovely spirit as you walk through and see the beautiful sights. photo 1

My sweetheart and I were married in this beautiful building (above). It is the Salt Lake Temple! It is my favorite because of that. It is a absolutely gorgeous building inside and out!

photo 3This building is the Assembly Hall. Our son, Riley, once sang with his high school choir in there. It is a very pretty building. And the statue in front of it is the Seagull Monument. It commemorates the miracle of the Seagulls.

The pioneers had recently entered the Salt Lake Valley and were trying to grow food when a huge infestation of crickets started eating the crops. There were so many crickets they were afraid that they would not have any food. So they prayed and asked God for help, and many Seagulls came and started eating the crickets. The Seagulls would fly away and regurgitate the crickets and come back and eat some more. The crop was saved and the pioneers thanked God for the miracle.

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Right next to the Seagull Monument is a beautiful bronze statue of some handcart pioneers. These pioneers where so valiant. They struggled more than most of the pioneers. Imagine putting everything you own in a small handcart like the one behind the parents in this statue. You would also need supplies and food. How could you fit everything? If someone got sick or injured they would have to fit in the handcart. An awesome movie that shares the story of the handcart pioneers is called 17 Miracles. I have 8 pioneer families in my ancestry, but none of them came by handcart. They used covered wagons. All of the pioneers were the most diligent, hard working, and stalwart people. I am so happy to read about my pioneer ancestors.

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Another view of the beautiful Salt Lake Temple!!! It is a sacred and holy place.photo 5 (5)

Then we went into the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. It was the Hotel Utah originally. Now it is a monument to a great prophet!! Joseph Smith restored the Church of Jesus Christ back to the earth. He was a wonderful man. You can hear about him here and here!photo 2 (4)It is a very beautiful building!!photo 2 (2)

Look at the details in the trim and the beautiful chandelier! 
photo 4 (2)It was a busy and fun day! We visited a few other places, but I will share those at a later time.

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I am so grateful we were able to visit temple square. Oh, I almost forgot. One thing I do every time I visit temple square is hug as many sister missionaries as I can and tell them I love them! I hope someone is loving and hugging my sweet Emily on her mission too!!!

Out on a WIM #60

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Sister Emily shaking hands with her mission president!

#60

Hey what’s cookin fam?!

It sounds like you all had a wonderful week! I am gald you got to have a nice 4th of July!
To answer your questions:
Training? It is going very well. I love Sister S. She came pre-trained! I swear they all do. Really I am the one learning from them. Sister S. is not sure where she is going on her mission yet… She just turned 19. We teach well together. We have been working on teaching skills and asking questions and switching off. It’s been fun. Often times we will make lesson plans so we are both on the same page. But we are good at following the spirit and sharing what that person needs most.
Sister Training Leader stuff is going well. I skyped Sister K. and Sister J. this week and had a marvelous meeting and also talked to their ZL’s. I was able to help them work through some problems they have been having and set goals. Also to help them to be encouraged and feel loved. They are amazing Sisters!!!!!!! First ones ever in Suriname. Top notch stuff right there. I love them bad. I also had my first Mission Leadership Council Meeting this week. It was awesome!! Then the Zone Leaders and I taught it to the Zone on Friday.
Oh also something crazy that happened this week is we had another Sister come with us, named Sister S. We were in a trio for a few days. I thought she was going to come and take over the area but surprise!!!!!!!!!!!!! President M. called and said that he needs me in St. V. and that he is going close down the Sisters area here in St. L. for the time because there are not enough sisters… He also then told Sister S. she’d be going to a new area. HOLY CATS! So kinda crazy stuff!!! At the end of this transfer I am leaving to go to St. V. and right now I am just organizing my area trying to get everything ready to hand it over to the Elders.
Anyway things are pretty wild but I am doing great. I am just loving my mission and my life. I can’t believe I will be coming home in a few months. I don’t really believe it! Lately I have been feeling grateful for all that I am blessed with.
A cool experience that I actually had today was that our washing machine broke for some reason and it’s amazing how many things I learned from that. I automatically asked Sister S. if she had done something to it… Which I then realized it sounded like I was sort of blaming her. I need to be more careful at what I say sometimes. Also I decided well! I might as well not sit here, I will just hand wash my clothes… So there I am washing each and every piece of my clothing and thinking wow I am so much more grateful for each article of clothing then I would have been if they were in the washer. I also decided to look for the good, The dryer was still working! Sometimes there are small things that we can learn a lot from. Today was one of those things. I went right to my book of thoughts and wrote down the experience and what I learned from it. I need to be more humble. I need to be more grateful. I know I still have lots to work on. But the Lords knows I try my best!
Well family! Mom, Dad, Ri, Kels, Janny, Al, and everyone else. THANK YOU for your love and support. It is wonderful to me. I hope you all have a great week and keep being the great people you are. Don’t forget to thank the Lord for all things and be sure to let your lights shine!
I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!
Love, Sister Emily

Sunday Best!

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“As precious as life itself is our heritage of individual freedom, for man’s free agency is a God-given gift. In sensing our responsibility to preserve it for ourselves and our posterity, let students and patriotic people ever keep in mind the warning voice of James Russell Lowell proclaiming: ‘Our American republic will endure only as long as the ideas of the men who founded it continue dominant.“There is a crying need today to have this truth heralded throughout the land that youth especially may appreciate and hold the freedom of the individual as sacred as did our revolutionary fathers” -David O. McKay
Hope your Sunday is the Best! Love, Joy