Last transfer call!!

So this week has been very long, mostly because of all the stress that comes with changing your return date, being a missionary, and having transfers coming up! So we did really good work, but we didn't see any HUGE miraculous miracles, which can be disheartening....really disheartening, but I have learned so much about Obedience and Diligence this week!

So first off, I'm really sad because Sister Stevens is getting transferred!!!! :( I really wanted her to kill me off, but it was kind of expected since she's already been here for 6 months, but still.  I'm getting one of the 4 Sister Smith's, I don't know which one, but I know as long as we're faithful we'll be eternal friends.  I know because I got a blessing on Wednesday night from my Bishop and God promised me that!!

So, onto my learning the importance of Obedience.  So since I've talked with President Shaw and President Weaver and have changed my date to come home God has opened my eyes to the importance of being EXACTLY obedient! It's easy to be obedient to the big rules (don't watch TV, don't listen to music, etc) but sometimes the smaller rules can be harder to follow (dinner at 4pm, being out of the house by 10:15) they're things that seem so small, but can really change your effectiveness as a missionary.  And my eyes have been so opened to some of those little rules that I have been less worried about following that I don't want to let get in my way anymore.  So I have been trying so hard to be exactly obedient, it's not easy, but it's so worth it!!!! I have already noticed a difference!! A successful missionary can be defined with two words....obedience and diligence! I want to be a more successful missionary this last 6 weeks. 

Well, that's kind of all I have this week, sorry my emails have gotten less exciting....but this last transfer will be full of MIRACLES so be ready! :)

Love you all!!

Sister Thomas

This is Tenino

So this week was another pretty lame week....not really lame, but just slow I should say, it has just been hard working with solid people that have a ways to go....they all want to be baptized they're just working through different things!!

This week was the first week of my entire mission where no one took a book of Mormon!! We handed out 0!! It's kind of disheartening, but the work will continue!  It just goes to prove the pattern of life, before something great happens you have pain and sorrow.  The great thing that's happening is I get to go to the temple tomorrow!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow is our mission temple trip and I'm SO EXCITED!!! It has been so long since I've been to the temple, and I honestly am freaking out!! I can't wait to share that experience with all my mission friends, well a third of them, our mission is too big to go in one day! It will be such an amazing experience!!

Last night we got to go and talk to the youth in our ward about missionary work and how to prepare for a mission! I realized that I did not do as much preparation as I wish that I had! But one thing I realized also was that whom the Lord calls he qualifies!! I realized how much I had changed because I said I didn't talk to anyone really before the mission and all the youth were shocked!! Who would have ever thought people wouldn't know I was shy? haha!! I love the spirit and progression, it is INCREDIBLE!!!!

Anyway, sorry I don't have more exciting things to share this week, I'm just being a servant of the lord and growing closer to the Savior everyday....I'm doing the greatest work that I or anybody could be doing right now!!  I love being a missionary!

Well, I hope you all have a good week! And to make this email more exciting I hope you enjoy these pictures with me, Sister Stevens, and our cow possie! They followed us all down the fence! It was funny!!!!  They didn't want a BOM though.... :( haha!!

I hope you all have a great week!!!

I LOVE YOU!!!!!

An Attitude of Gratitude

This week was great!! It was still kind of a slow week for missionary work, but we were able to be out and about and enjoying both the rain and shine!!! On Wednesday we had interviews with President, it was good to be able to just talk to him, and know he cares.  I'm getting tired of talking about how I'm feeling physical wise, but I know he only asks because he wants me to be ok, and he loves me!

Also this week was of course General Conference!!!! Ah man! I love General Conference!! I feel like as a missionary it just becomes even more and more of a joy!!! One of my favorite talks was President Uchtdorf's!! Gratitude is one thing that is hard for me to focus on when in the midst of turmoil, it was cool to hear him encourage us to do so, and I know that as I do so it will make life so much better and I'll have so much joy!!!

One of the coolest parts of conference was watching it Saturday morning at the Mayberry's house.  They made us a delicious breakfast, and we watched it with Aaron, our investigator, and Eddie, our Recent Convert!! It was awesome! Every time they talked about a missionary, or showed a missionary Eddie would yell out, "Only 11 more months!!!" he is so excited to serve a mission, he gets to go this Saturday to do baptisms in the temple, he's really excited for that too!!

And Aaron was so focused on what was being said, he is such a scholar at the bible, him and his grandfather started their own Christian church, and he's only 18 years old!! He knows way more about scriptures and stuff then I do! He's a tough sell though, he has 100% attendance in seminary this year, and he can't write off the Book of Mormon, but he's not sure about Joseph Smith......all I can say is he obviously hasn't sincerely prayed about it yet, or he'd be baptized in a second!! But he'll get baptized, it's just a matter of time, especially because he wants to go on a mission and get married in the temple and that requires being a member so one day. :) 

Well, that was pretty much it for this week!! The Bishopric LOVED the brownies, they said they didn't last long!! :) apparently we only live 3 blocks from my bishop's niece, the Tolman's.  I think they're in our stake and the name sounds familiar, the ones around my age are Chelsea Tolman, and Riley Tolman.....I feel like I should know them....?

Well, I hope you all have a great week!! Remember to be grateful and to have an attitude of Gratitude, it will help you to be happier and more joyful in life!!

I love you all so much!!!  

Sister Thomas