Author Archives: Joy

Out on a WIM #45

Posted on by
Reply

photo (20)

#45

Hi my most fantastic, fabulous, free, ferocious, family 🙂

You’re in St. Georgey??? LUCKY!!!
Alright so down to business…. We got our transfer calls on Saturday and Sister S. is leaving the area and I am training again!! We are a little sad that we are being split up because we are basically soul sisters and are like peas and carrots. But the Lord knows what’s best.
So Seester S. is moving to go with Sister G. one of my other favorite people ever 🙂 I am excited.
So I will be training a Sister named Sister K. (All the dets I know): She has brown hair. She is from Washington. She is learning to speak Dutch!!! I am training her to send her off to be the 1st sister in Suriname!! Pretty cool! Holy cats. The pressure’s on 🙂
We had a really great week. It was very busy as usual and kinda crazy. Sister T. who is the Sister Training Leader and serves on St. V. came this week and went out teaching with us and it was really fun. She said we are hard working, fun, obedient, good teaching Sisters.
She said she thinks I will be called as a STL soon but we’ll see. That’d be fun but for sure a Pressure filled teaching and learning experience. We shall see what happens though.
This week we have been practicing teaching skills and memorizing of course for Zone Conference. Which will be this Saturday coming. Sister Mehr wants to come out teaching with us. THAT’LL BE AWESOME!!
I have been thinking a lot about the spirit this week. How it has worked with me in my life and how I have seen in the lives of all these beautiful souls 🙂
Sometimes people in the carib like to be loud and yell and do silly things and so it has been a nice challenge to try and help them realize how the spirit works.
Man I am really so grateful for the challenges and also the great things I have and will learn on my mission. It’s the best. It’s amazing to think of things that used to matter to me just don’t really matter anymore.
I was also thinking about LaRee my favorite! How is she??
We met this man this week from England… We always say his name in a English accent it is so funny. He had this house that was like an outdoor house! It was cool… We are still meeting quite a few people. We are trying to decided who is really to progress and who is just limin in our teaching pool. But we shall find them. Holla!!!!!!
I am excited to get the package you sent!! It’ll be nice. I am going to get a bag soon. Mines is gettin mashed up boy.
Scripture of the week: Alma 7:23 this is the key to life. 🙂 We should all try and be the things that are in this verse.
Funny story of the week: We were in a lesson with T. one of the people we are teaching and here is the start of the lesson…. Me: “Alright T. we are going to teach you about one of the Lords commandments. It’s called the Law of Chastity, which prohibits any sexual relations outsides the bonds of marriage….” T.: *giggles* Us: T. what’s so funny? T.: I just was not expecting that to come out of your mouth… Hahahaha. Then at one point in the lesson Sister S. said (we’ve been working on boldness, and it’s working) T. do you want to please God or please your girlfriend? Whaaa?? Hahah
Um pretty much funny things happen all day everyday so I can’t say them all..
Anyway it sounds like you’ve been having fun with all the extended family and everything.
I love you all dearly and hope you have a wonnerful, spiritual, awesome, great week. REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE and what you stand for.
Love forever and always Seesta Emily

Out on a WIM #44

Posted on by
Reply
IMG_1561[1]
#44
HI!!! Well this week was wonderful!
To answer your questions:
1 When we tract we really like to get to know the person a little and also jump right into teaching so we do short doctrinal statements and then ask inspired questions and tell them about what we feel prompted to say.. Usually something about prophets and all the different churches!
If you already had your activity, what did you do? 
2. Today we’ve actually had a relaxing P-day!!!! We’ve just been liming really. I am actually sick right now with a cold and not feeling too well.
Do the people where you are have different accents that Barbados?
3. Yes please, people here sound so different. But I am used to it already. They have totes dif lingo. And they speak Patwa here a lot!!!
Did you tell us how many are in your branch? How is it doing?
4. In our branch we have about 50! It’s is better. We are still doing our best.
Ok so our investigators are just plugging along! We didn’t get anyone to church on sunday!!! 🙁 But it’s ok next week for sure!!!
We are teaching this great young man J. and he loves the booklets we leave him and now the Book of Mormon! We are excited to keep teaching him 🙂 Oh! and we teach the 1st vision A TON! At least twice a day 🙂 It’s the best.
As for everything else we are working hard still trying to find our people who will progress. There are miracles happening here in this area. I am so grateful to be a missionary. Thanks for all the support and love.
Sorry this is short there are some malfunctions going on today!
We’ve been using Mormon Messages and trying to liven up all the lessons and it’s been going well. If there is a visual that you could think of I’d love it if you sent that too!!
I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!! The church is true! Love, Sister Emily

Out on a WIM #43

Posted on by
Reply

390198_2269503019488_1625284275_n

Pre-Mission sillyness!

#43

HEY ALL YA’LL BEAUTIFUL SOULS!!

I am glad to hear that everyone’s week was bomb.com.
My week was just the best!! As usual 😉 So we had some crazy things happen this week.
It sounds like every one of you is doing wonderful things and staying busy.
To answer your question: During the week we stay in our area. We do travel around the island though. The whole island is hilly. It is very pretty here. This place is great. I’m so blessed.
Something sad is that Bro R. from my last area dropped them after I left……. 🙁 I guess it was because I was not there anymore.. It made me sad. Things got pretty bad before and after I left.
BUT AS FOR HERE: Things are going well 🙂 We have a baptism this Sat. Her name is K. she is a member referral. And is so wonderful.
We are working very closely with the members here.
We are trying to help a lot of people to have a change of heart. I’m starting to realize how crucial this change of heart is for everyone. EVERYONE.
Funnies: The other day someone said to us ” well it says in the bible you can’t serve God and Mormon….” HAHAHA that’s a new one. Last time I saw it, it said you can’t serve God and Mammon.
This man we taught was trying to bash with us and we wouldn’t so he said we needed to be more well versed with the scriptures so he gave us a nice booklet.
Anyway this week Sister S. and I built a blanket fort and we also were sick half of this week but we drank some bush tea (it’s not against WOW(Word of Wisdom) and we got better. The best part was when we went out teaching,  while we were in the lessons the spirit was able to comfort us and make us feeel better so we wouldn’t feel sick. It was awesome 🙂
Sist S. and I gave talks in church yesterday! It was nice and we are helping the branch. We did a make over to the basement, where we meet. We got it all cleaned up for the investigators class. And we are getting a young women’s class set up and just started Personal Progress!!!!! WE ARE EXCITED!!!!!!!!
Today we had a Zone activity it was so fun!
This email is all over the place………….. Ha sorry.
We are helping a lot of the youth that we are working with to keep their standards and to respect themselves and others… That can be a big prob here.
Cool and Spiritual Story: So P. one of the amazing people we are working with, he got offended and it got rough. But we felt prompted to stop by his house and offer to help and just let him know that we cared. We had a lesson this week on the recognizing the spirit and he told us all how he feels the spirit has been teaching him, and he said that he knew that we were messengers for Christ, and that he was so grateful that we stopped by.
Anyway some lessons I have learned this week are to always have hope in people. To put myself in other peoples shoes. And last but not least TO SUCK IT UP AND DRY YOUR EYES 😉 Haha
Yesterday I had a thinking day. Just one of those days where you think about things you have learned, and things you have been through, and things you should be learning. I read the talk by Henry B. Eyring Mountains to climb and it made me smile. I am so grateful for the trials and lessons I learn as a missionary. I seriously cannot picture my life if I had not chosen to serve a mission. I love talking to Sister S. we have the best deep conversations just about everything. She is a real gem and I love her. We talk a lot about our lives and love learning from each other.
I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and his Atoning sacrifice for me. I was reading from Jesus the Christ and it filled my heart with love and admiration.
I know that my Redeemer lives. I am grateful for the scriptures, I have learned to rely on them and they are a great support and friend to me.
Anyway all is well here! I love life and the gospel and everything in between. Thanks to all the wonderful people in my life.
I love you all and hope you have a great week.
XOXO
Love forever and always, Sister Emily 🙂

Poetic Friends & NerdFest 2014!

Posted on by
Reply

Flexy’s friends brought over a fun birthday gift. 

photo (18)

These are the same friends along with some others who came over for NerdFest 2010. The one Flexy had before he left on his mission. You can check that one out here!

So for Flexy’s birthday this year he wanted to do another NerdFest. Here are some pics of the festivities. They are playing a game called Heroscape! They love it, and play it together as often as they can.

photo 1 (4)

photo 2 (3)

photo 3 (3)

photo 5 (2)

The difference between this group of boys and the group 4 years ago, is that all of these boys have served missions for the LDS Church. This is a great group of guys. I’m so proud of them and all of their Nerdy-ness. I think Flexy had a great 23rd birthday!

Out on a WIM #42

Posted on by
Reply

DSC03406

Pre-mission Tree Hugger

#42

Hi my lovely family. Oh don’t worry about me I am just sitting here in an internet cafe crying my eyes out. Haha I look like a dingus! Anyway I am so sad that I couldn’t be there when Grandpa passed….. But through my wonderful fam I feel like a part of it and almost like I was there. I really am so grateful for the gospel and the plan of Salvation. That we will all see gramps again. It’s not even a question, I know we will. I know he is looking over us all. I was sitting here feeling a little bit sad and I felt like Grandpops was standing right by me with a hand on my shoulder helping me to know that everything is alright. I love him so much but I know he’s doing much better now, no more pain and struggle. I love our family and send my regards to everyone.

Tell Gram I love her bad and give her a big hug for me 🙂
So this week was really nice. We taught so many people and are meeting such lovely folks. Sister S. and I are like dynamite… We get work done boy!
Sunday was Sister S.’s b-day and we were fasting so I could not make her breakfast but I made some signs and gave her a few little gifts! She is so cute. We had a great day at church.
I don’t know if I told you but our branch needs some help! It’s such a cute disfunctional sort of thing. Hahaha yesterday in fast and testimony meeting this lady got up to bear her testimony and then just burst out into song… It was wonderful. And another guy started talking about how we shouldn’t call children “kids” because that means small goat or something… Needless to say, it’s never a dull moment.
Saint L. is growing on me like a fungus in an athletes hot shoe…. (that was gross I know) (but I needed a visual… I am missionary, come on) The people here are the best!!! It’s starting to feel more like home although I still miss my family in my last area! It’s alright.
We have found many people and we will soon have 2 baptisms. We are working SO hard. Like borderline too hard. But we really want to get everything in line 🙂 I know this time in St. L. will continue to be such a blessing.
I am starting to realize how different I am than I used to be.. Not in a bad way I just am changed for the better.
I am really sorry I have not sent pictures in a long time. The circumstances are not the best! But I will strive to send some real soon.
I have learned so much this week and felt the spirit very strong as we’ve been teaching the 1st lesson so much of the restoration. I am so grateful for the gospel in my life. And mom and dad I am grateful for the magnificent parents that you are. You really are the best!
Anyway I love you mama bear! You are so sweet and kind. Have a wonderful week and I will talk to you real soon.
Daddy: I am so sorry about gramps. I just love you and hope you are alright. I wish I could be there to cry with you all… I mean lets get real I am like an expert cryer 😉 Anyway love you pops!
Tell everyone hi for me! Also never forget how blessed each and every one of us are. We have so much to thankful for. Someone always has it worse than us.. Like a lot of the people here hardly have anything but they are still so wonderful.
Anyway life is great. I love you all so much. Tell everyone hi and that I love them.
Love always, Sister Emily

13 Things I’ve Learned From Posting 1000 Posts!!!!!!!!!

Posted on by
Reply

I have reached a milestone!!! Today I’m posting my

1000th post!

Here are 13 things I’ve learned from posting 1000 posts!!!!!

1-It’s ok to be yourself. 

I have learned that even though I’m not perfect, I am lovable.

_MG_9404a

2-It’s a great way to tell your story. 

I love to read over my stories and relive my experiences.

3-I love to talk about my family, and their history.

I have wonderful children! My grand baby is adorable! My ancestors are the bomb! We are all basically pretty great people!!!

PedigreeChart

4-It’s actually very fun to have a blog.

It’s a happy, fun, exciting place to share my life!

5-I have lots of heroes, friends, and memories.

My heroes are the good examples in my life. I try to emulate their lives. My friends are golden and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. Well, my memory may go, but I’ll still have my blog.

6-Funny things happen in life.

Laughter really is the best medicine. I wrote a post once about laughing at inappropriate times, and yes I have been known to do that. I just innocently try to live my life and funny stuff just happens. I start to giggle and it’s all over. Next thing you know I have a stomach cramp, and tears are streaming down my face. I am thankful that I laugh easily. Life is too short to not laugh hysterically when the opportunity presents it’s self.

7-There are some wonderful movies and TV shows out there.

Dory: “Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming….what do we do we swim, swim!”

I need that reminder a lot.

8-Sometimes I don’t Have anything to say, believe it or not. And that’s ok.

I have been amazed at the lack of things to say, or when I can’t think of anything to post. I never thought I’d see the day. I am very social, I can talk to anyone, but I do like to be by myself and just sit still and read or relax sometimes.

9-Life is busy!

Life is busier than ever before. We’re all busy. It makes living adventurous! Sometimes finding time to do a blog post is very difficult, but I’m always glad when I do.

10-I really love Sunday’s the Best!

DSC01985

Peaceful, inspirational, and spiritual! Spending the day thinking about God and His precious gifts, and looking for ways to bless others lives!

11-The world is full of Beautiful Places!

20070616_174349

Always focus on the beauty in this world. We are so blessed by Father above to live in such a beautiful place. Look for the beauty!

12-I have learned lot’s of lesson’s. 

I’m so glad I’ve written them down. I love to learn and I’m glad that challenges are not wasted by having to repeat difficult times. I so appreciate the lessons!

13-It takes a long time to write 1000 posts. 

Who knew it would take almost 5 years of blogging to reach 1000 posts, but I did it!!! Yay!!!!!!!!!

The Last “Famous Long Cut!”

Posted on by
Reply

photo (16)

 

My wonderful father-in-law Pearce passed away on Tuesday February 25th. It has been a very busy, emotional, peaceful, happy, grateful week. Pearce has been struggling with Alzheimer’s for 8 years. It is a cruel disease. We have missed being able to talk with him and have him be able to talk back. Before Alzheimer’s he was always ready to share stories and knowledge. He has always been a very active person, very athletic. He skied any chance he got. He loved tennis, racquetball, golf, really any sport. My darlin would go for bike rides with him, he would forget how to shift his bike. Shortly after that they had to quit going, my sweetie was worried he might forget to stop for traffic and get hurt. It has been an adventure and a trial.

Now about the “Famous long cuts”. All of Pearce’s children have at least one memory of him taking them on a “long cut”. Of course a “long cut” is the opposite of a “short cut”. Whether it was in the car or hiking or something else, he would say, “Let’s go this way.” It would end up taking much longer to get where they were going than if they had just gone the original route, but it was always an adventure and the family had fun together.

We decided that him having Alzheimer’s and having his passing to the other side of the veil take 8 years is his last “Famous long cut”. It has taken way too long. We have missed him for years, even though he has been close by. My darlin used to always say, “It’s ok, cause at least I get to hug him still.” Very true.

He is now at peace. I believe, we all believe, he is in the world of spirits with other family members who have passed also. His parents, grandparents, a sweet baby daughter born too early. We know he is happy and we know we will see him again.

He lived a good life and has graduated to heaven. Yes, we’re sad sometimes, but we choose to celebrate his life and his moving on to better things. Graduating. His example and life will always be a part of us. I am so grateful to have known him. He raised my sweet husband and taught him to be the kind of man he is. He taught him that there wasn’t anything in this world that he couldn’t do, and that he was a “trooper.”

DSC03792

Out on a WIM #41

Posted on by
Reply

#41

Hello family 🙂

Oh I am glad you got to see a picture! She is a doll. Me and her are like peas and carrots.
1-Did you say she is fairly new?
1. She has been out for 3 transfers. So she came out with Sister H.!
2-She was trained by Sister C. just barely?
2. Sister C. trained Sister S. and they were together for 3 trans. just like Sister H. and I! So basically we just swapped daughters and islands!
3-How long has she been out then?
3. She’s been out for 4 and half months.
4-How are the people in where you are?
4. The people here are WONNERFUL!!!!!!!! They grow closer to my heart every day. I am not going to lie, it was really hard to leave all of the people from B’dos. But the people here are so great and feel like fam already.
5-How is the branch?
5. The branch, is very small. The people are so sweet. Sister S. and I have big big plans for this cute island. There have been disobedient/less than effective missionaries here in the past so there are trust probs and stuff like that. We are kinda starting from scratch with everything so it’ll be challenging but SO FUN! And worth it!
6-Is there more than one set of missionaries in your branch?
6. There has normally been 2 sets of missionaries here. But when I came in they blanked another set of elders… So now we have six!! 🙂
7-How often do you see the senior couple?
7. I have seen them twice since I have been here… So basically hardly ever.
8-Tell me the most interesting thing you have learned since you got there. 
8. I have learned that life can always always be worse and someone always has it worse off then you. I have learned so much in these short weeks. The people here hardly have anything and I just want to give all that I have to them!! I “accidentally” gave away my watch the other day… Hahah it’s alright 🙂
I have learned to LOVE LOVE LOVE And to be yourself always and people will love you. Just like the Stake President told me. 🙂
Sister S. and I have been working our behinds right off!!!!!!!! This week we set HIGH goals and reached every single one. The best week in numbers I have ever had. Hard work and goal setting takes you a long long way 🙂
Although we have had just about every miss fortune possible..
Hahah our water has gone out completely and then partially. One of your investigators yelled at us and got super offended and that set off the Branch Pres. who was helping us teach that man. There have been so many crazy tings appen.
We are finding lots of great people and trying to find those who are prepared.
I love the people here so much already though seriously.
And I got my wish! I wanted to be in an adventuristic mission and it is happening even more so this transfer!!! LIFE IS GREAT.
Anyway!!! Sounds like all is well for you all 🙂
I am so proud of my cute Sar bear! She will be a great missionary!
Ok so something cool is that before my mission if I had a bad or stressful day I would whip out Bob Marley and listen to Three little birds, and multiple times on my mission where I was stressed or worried somehow I end up hearing that song… Tender mercy from the Lord in a funny way….??… I think yes!
Anyway ereybody I know this is the true church on the earth today. It is my light and my joy and I am so grateful for it 🙂
Have a great week I love you all! Look unto the lord in every thought, doubt not fear not.
Love always, Seester Emily 🙂