Hello Family!

Hey Family!! I hope you are all doing well this week, even though I hear most of you have been pretty sick, I hope you're starting to feel better though!! Luckily that hasn't hit me yet, which is surprising since I'm around so many people all the time!! Well, lets see what happened this week! It was a pretty slow week, but we found some really awesome people!!

First was Michelle and Tom Wardell.  They are a couple that lives across the street from a really awesome member, Sister Peterson, who's also has a non-member husband.  Anyway, the Wardell's are really cool.  Michelle grew up around members and knows A TON about the church already, Tom is the opposite, he knew nothing really.  Except Glenn Beck said something about underwear so he asked us about garments.  Honestly I think it's so funny how people ask about our underwear, sometime I want to turn it around and ask them about theirs, like, "Hey, I hear you wear Fruit of the Loom what's up with that?" really people, come on.  Anyway! We taught them the Restoration, and talked about eternal families and temples a little bit, and they loved it! They are praying about being baptized on January 12!!

We also met a family, the Mason's!! We met Robert the other night while we were knocking and he was excited to hear more, he said they are looking for a church that will bring them together as a family....um what? we can help!! haha!! We taught him last night, his wife was shopping until the end of the lesson, and we're teaching his wife on Wednesday to get her caught up, and then we're teaching their whole family next weekend.  They have 4 kids, they're 13, 10, 4, and 2.  So if you do the math that's 4 individuals that have the opportunity to be baptized!! We have been so blessed here in Belfair to be able to find families!!! There is no greater joy than bringing a family into the Gospel together, that's what I learned with the Kaylors.

Oh speaking of the Kaylors, they are doing awesome!! Bishop is getting Jimmy interviewed for the priesthood and then getting them both interviewed for temple recommends so that they can do baptisms for the dead on December 28!! I'm so excited!! They are on fire!! Also, yesterday Freddy blessed the Sacrament!! It was so awesome!! He was so happy and proud to be up there and to be worthy!! He looked so good in his white shirt and tie.  I've never been able to see a convert pass the sacrament, mostly because Freddy's my first male over the age of 12 I've had the opportunity to teach and see baptized!! I can't even describe the feeling of Joy I had yesterday experiencing it.  The only thing I can imagine is its like when you're a parent and your child does something that makes you proud. 

Another fun thing this week was we had our mission Christmas party!! It was so fun!! We sang, ate, did skits, and did a white elephant!! I got a BOWLING BALL!!! haha, that is not coming home with me, it would be the weight of a whole suitcase :) we're gonna have some fun with it though, we don't know what, but something fun will come of it!! Our zone sang Jingle Bell Rock but with mission words, which were written by none other than your favorite missionary (me) with some help from Sister Hall!! It was a hit!! I'll have to send you the lyrics some time, they're pretty funny!! Maybe I'll just type it now:

Ring the Bell, Ring the Bell, Ring the Bell knock

We knock lots of doors from 5-7 oclock

Yelling, Rejection, but we are not phased

'specially ever since the bar was raised

Ring the Bell, Ring the Bell, Ring the Bell knock

put em on date and don't let em drop

Preaching and teaching and saying some prayers

In the frosty air

What a dark time, it's required time

to knock the night away

Ring the bell time, is a swell time

To hear J-Dubs tell you go away

Grab your gloves, grab your boots you're gonna freeze

knock all around the block

Enjoy your miracle at 6:59

That's why we ring the bell

why we ring the bell

why we ring the bell, KNOCK!!!

Well, I believe that is all for this week!! I can't believe that we get to Skype so soon!! I'm so excited!! I'll get more details like time and such next week!! I love you all so much!! Have an amazing week!! And remember the true meaning of Christmas at this special time of year!! I'm so grateful to be able to share the Gospel with all I meet, especially in this Christmas season!! I'll miss you, but I'm so happy I am where I am!!

I LOVE YOU!!!

Sister Thomas

Marriage-tism!!

This week has been AMAZING!!!! We were able to teach a lot of lessons and find a lot of new investigators, but the best thing that happened this week was we were able to experience a Marriage-tism (marriage and baptism)  I've told you about Jimmy, Crystal and Lillia and this week we were able to see them married and baptized!

They are such a sweet family!! I love them so much!! The day was incredible! At 2pm everyone started showing up and lots of their family and friends were able to come, plus there were lots of ward members there because everyone already loves them!!

President Fields (the Gig Harbor stake President) was able to perform the marriage, it was so precious, he talked about them being able to become an eternal family, and how they would grow together in the gospel, and other beautiful things.  It was so cute, when he asked if Jimmy took Crystal to be his bride, he said "it would be my honor. I do" and I almost just bust out crying right there, they love each other so much and it has just grown as they've come closer to God together!! Immediately after the marriage Crystal, Jimmy, and Lillia went and changed into their jumpsuits.  We had a testimony about baptism, and then the three of them were baptized!! I can't even describe the happiness that was in my heart, there was so much peace. 

I then shared a message on the Restoration while they got changed, and dried off. Then we had some more testimonies.  And we ended with refreshments of course.  Sister Sturges made them a really awesome wedding cake, and they were able to have the joy of cutting the cake!!

It was a terrific day. 

Then, Sunday morning came, and it became even better.  They got to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  They are just incredible, and they are going to help the ward so much to grow, and expand! In Relief Society we split into groups and were talking about how the love of God being in our lives leads us away from worldliness, and how that is.  And Crystal shared something way cool.

She is a horror movie buff, like she lives for horror movies.  BUT she said ever since she's started learning more about God and Jesus Christ, those things just don't even matter to her anymore, she wants to spend all her time learning more about the Gospel and how their family can be happier.  My heart melted when she said that, to see how the gospel truly can change lives.  Its amazing!!

Funny Story! So Crystal is super baby hungry (they also have a 2 year old Draven, he's not in the picture) anyway, I was telling her how being on a mission has made me super baby hungry because we can't hold them, or really play with them much.  Then she said what you want all recent converts to say.  She said, "I can't wait to see your kids, I'm sure you'll be a great mother"  The only thing better than bringing someone into the gospel, is bringing a life long friend into the gospel.  They're planning on going on a road trip to Salt Lake this summer when Sister Hall and I get home so we can show them around.  I can't wait til we're able to see them sealed in the temple!! I will go anywhere they want to see it!!

Honestly that was the major miracle of the week!! Crystal's gonna teach us how to make  chimichanga's this week, I'm so excited, we're making them for the Ward Christmas Party!! I can't wait!!

It's crazy, this week is the last week of the transfer, and I have no idea what's going to happen to me, I could stay I could go, I have no idea!! It's freaking me out!!! I'll know next week though, all will be well!!

I love you all so much!! I hope you enjoyed the Christmas Devotional, and if you didn't get to see it GO WATCH IT!!!! It's great.  Elder Nelson's talk was interesting, but it was VERY GOOD!!

I hope you all have a great week, and I hope you're loving the Christmas season as much as I am, even though I'm an icicle every night knocking in 18 degrees.  I know it could be worse, but Washington never gets this cold according to the natives.  It's supposed to warm up this week though, so I hope it does. 

I wish you all a Merry Christmas, and I hope you're all safe and well!! I love you ALL!!!

Sister Thomas

I'm grateful to be a Missionary!!

So as we all know Thanksgiving was last Thursday, and boy did I learn how grateful I was to be a missionary! Not only for the miracles, but for the funny, awkward situations that come with being a missionary.  I'll start out this week by telling a very funny story.

So Tuesday one of the wards in our zone was putting on a thanksgiving lunch for the missionaries.  They said we could come without an investigator, but we wanted to get one there, because who doesn't love free food.  So while we're getting our mail we run into one of our neighbors named Amanda.  She said she'd love to come and that she would also give us a ride, which was awesome because it is far and we were running out of miles. 

So we get in her car and a Justin Timberlake song is on, we kindly ask her to turn it off, and she says, "yeah, of course, but you know that songs about me"  suddenly our brains went.....dun dun dun.....and the crazy stories began.  She told us that there are multiple Justin Timberlake songs in which he sings about her, says her name (Amanda, a very common name), and she talks about how she doesn't want to get in the middle of his marriage.

Sister Hall said to her, "Are you sure you aren't just confused?"

and she said, "I could be, if that's the case I'll just go to counseling and then be done with it."  That's when we decided she was a little confused about reality.

She then told us a story about how Mitt Romney stole the term "Job creators" from her, apparently she's some online writer? I don't know.

Then she told this story about Justin Timberlake, and how when he was a kid he walked into a house with a bunch of drift wood and then said, this is what my name will be, Timber. and a girl said "like timberwolf?" and he said, "no, I like lake, Timberlake"  then she said, that girl was me.....we were quite worried about her sanity at this point. 

Then at the lunch, another wards investigator and her started talking about false doctrine.  Like how Jesus Christ broke the 10 commandments, and something involving Hitler and angels....aka crazy false doctrine. 

That ends, she drives us home, and the last thing she tells us is, "Before you go I have to tell you something really cute about Eminem....he's a dang good writer, and a really good father.  I know this because I chatted with him for 2 weeks last summer."

And then we went in our apartment and that was Amanda...we have a lesson with her this week....we'll see how that goes.

EXCITING NEWS!!!

Crystal Jimmy and Lillia are getting baptized this Saturday!!! Crystal and Jimmy are getting married at 2 and then all 3 are getting baptized immediately afterwards.  Jimmy just has to do good with not smoking before then, if you guys could pray for him that would be awesome, it'd be much appreciated!!

Thanksgiving was fun, we went to the Bishop Wings house for the main event, THANKSGIVING DINNER, and had a blast!! Then we went to the Clifford's house and had some snacks and talked and got to know them.  And then we went to the Warren's house where we got sooooo many leftovers!! Sister Warren is just the sweetest thing on the earth, I love her!! She fed us tons of dessert, well me, Sister Hall gave up sweets til the 7 in support of Jimmy quitting smoking.  It was a great day that was filled with lots of love.

The rest of the week was a week full of miracles!! We went on exchanges, which honestly aren't my favorite, but it was pretty fun, just interesting. 

Well, that's about it for now!! I love you all SOOO MUCH!!! I missed you this thanksgiving and I can't wait to see you on Christmas, but I wouldn't want to be home because I am loving being a missionary, especially this time of year!!

I love you all, and miss you!!

Love,

Sister Thomas

I love being a missionary!!

First off!! Good news!! My allergy rash thing isn't because of Gluten!!! So mom all those brownies you were planning on sending me, send them away!!! :)  Sister Hall has been begging me to ask because she remembers them from the MTC and she truly believes they are the best brownies she has and ever will eat!  We learned it wasn't Gluten when we were fasting and my face still broke out! I'm guessing it's eczema or an outdoor allergy or something, until it gets worse I think I'll be fine, I just look like I'm sunburned, when it's raining! :)

Second, GREAT NEWS!!!!!!

Saturday Morning we were privileged to hear from Elder Call (area seventy), Elder Christianson (presidency of the seventy), and Elder Neil L. Anderson (quorum of the twelve apostles!)  Lets just say it was INCREDIBLE!!

We got together as a whole mission and were all in black and white (which they kept referring to as the Washington Tacoma Uniform) and as he walked in you could feel the power that he held.  It was really special because Elder Anderson actually got to set President and Sister Weaver apart when they became mission presidents! 

He shared tons of great things with us!! There was so much spirit, and I loved how humorous he was at times.  One thing he said is that its funny to be in a meeting with the twelve and Elder Packer will always say, "Neil, you need to enjoy your youth when you have it!" haha he then went on to say, "Most of my brethren have one foot in each world and they're waiting to step fully to the next."  He talked to us about how we needed to have sealed in our heart, the testimony of Jesus Christ and His Atonement, and when we do, Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon will never be a problem, because they just add to that testimony!  He also quoted Elder Kimball who said, "If a person hasn't suffered he hasn't repented!"  It looks like I've repented a bunch with the suffering I've gone through, but it has all made me happier and more prepared to be able to share my testimony with the world.  Another thing he said that hit me was he said,

"You're not who you think you are...You're better!"

And finally as he bore his testimony he said, "I am His Witness.  He lives."  and the spirit at that moment was indescribable, I knew with no doubt in my mind that not only did Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appear to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the spring of 1820, but Christ continues to run His church through his called and ordained Prophets, seers, and revelators!  They are his witness, and though I have not seen him with my physical eyes I too am His witness! I am able to go every night and knock of strangers doors, and testify of Jesus Christ because He lives, he loves me, and He wants all of his children to have that knowledge.  If anyone reading this is questioning, or has questioned their testimony of our Savior.  Kneel tonight in humble prayer and just ask if he is there.  I do this every once in a while when the doubts may sneak in, and each time I ask, I am blessed with a firmer knowledge of His presence.  He lives, and because he lives we can too!!

If that wasn't a great enough week, it all got better yesterday!! So I told you about Crystal last week, Sister Sturges refered her and she is so prepared.  Well, this week we got to meet with her fiancé Jimmy and their daughter Lillia. 

We were worried at first that Jimmy would be against it, he walked in, big bushy beard, looks kind of like most the anti's we would come across, and we were a little nervous to be honest, but the Lord has truly prepared this sweet family.  We were able to teach them the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Word of Wisdom, and the Law of Chastity.  By the end, they were 99% on date to be not only baptized on December 7th, but married as well!!  So on December 7not only will RSL be destroying whoever they're playing in the championships, but Jimmy, Crystal, and Lillia will be beginning their journey towards becoming an eternal family.  I'm pretty excited.  I've been promised I would find a family to bring to the gospel, and I think this could be them!  They are so sweet, and have so much to give. 

Well, lets see, I think that's long enough for now....oh except I must mention, this last week we got to go to Stretch Island in our area, and OH MY GOSH!!! It's beautiful!!! You look one way and it's water, and the other way you see Mt. Rainer exploding over the trees.  I wish I could put a camera in my brain so you could see the beauty I'm surrounded by each day. I'll just have to wait for our vacation up here!!

I love you all!! Have a great week!! And eat tons of food! And most importantly be grateful for what God has given you!! I'm so grateful for my family that is able to support me while I'm able to be out serving the Lord.  I'm grateful to be a missionary and help others come to the Gospel.  I'm SOOO Grateful to know that I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!

Sister Thomas

Spiritual High!!

Oh my gosh!! Yesterday was such an incredible day!! I can't even really explain the joy, but I'll try.....here it goes! 

So it all started at 8:20 in the morning when Brother and Sister Wood agreed to drive us to the Stake Center Dedication.  The Gig Harbor has been without a stake center since it was created a few years ago, and they have been waiting for this day!!  And lets just say it was well worth the wait.  We got there around 9 to beat the crowds, and then sat in the brand new, beautiful building to wait for the meeting to start at 10.  They decided that they were going to have the stake as a whole partake of the sacrament, and it was so cool to see the 4 tables of priests and bread, and dozens of deacons worthy to have the opportunity to do so, and it was so organized, it was a shock, most 12 year old boys are too crazy, it just shows the gospel is true when you see them be so reverent and kind during the sacrament.  We found out later in the meeting that 1500 people were able to partake of the sacrament as a whole, that's how many people, members and non-members, that were able to come to the dedication.  It was incredible!

Then President Fields offered the dedicatory prayer and it was incredible the silence that was in there, it was so apparent that immediately after the amen you could hear a rush of sound of the rustling papers, breathing, coughing, whining babies, but during the prayer there was no sound, it was peaceful, quiet, still, and I felt like I was in the temple!  I felt that everlasting warmth and joy that comes from the spirit, it was so incredible!!

After the dedication we headed home for some lunch and then headed to an appointment we had with a referral from a member in our ward, The Sturges'.  They came to the Harvest Festival and we were finally able to meet with Crystal yesterday with Sister Sturges there!

It was so awesome!! We taught the Restoration and she loved it, she doesn't have much knowledge about religion but she wants to be surrounded by good people and have religion in her life.  It was really cool, we shared the first vision and told her about President Monson, and she said,

"Wait, you're telling me there is a prophet, like Noah on the Earth now?"

"Yep" we said

"That's so cool, how have I not heard about that, why do people not know that, why wouldn't they want to know that?"

It was incredible! She said she believed that God would have another prophet, it wouldn't make sense to just leave us, she is so golden, and she is praying about December 7 to be baptized right now, we have an appointment on Wednesday and her fiancé and daughter (Lillia, 8) are going to listen too! Lillia did listen a little bit, but not too much, she was distracted being a young girl and all!  When we invited Crystal to church though Lillia was just like, "YES!!!! WE WILL!" It was adorable!

We also had an incredible lesson with a new investigator named Paula Winslowe.  She is awesome, she let us in when we were tracting and that night set up times for us to come and teach each of the lessons.  We had the one last night and the next three today, tomorrow, and Wednesday! She loves knowledge! haha!

Our lesson yesterday was awesome! We taught the Restoration and were able to bring Sister Seamons, a way sweet member with us! As we asked if she had questions she said, yes, I've been wondering this my whole life.  So I look at God, and how he's our father.....shouldn't there be someone to help him, if we have 2 parents on earth shouldn't we have 2 parents in heaven.  We all kind of smiled at each other and told her how we do have a heavenly mother, and she got a little teary eyed.  Its so incredible when people are able to learn truths on their own, and something they believe so much but people say their crazy.  But I love seeing when they hear that it's not crazy but it's true, and they see that we have something they want.  The spirit was so incredibly strong at the lesson, and Sister Seamons really helped it to be there!  I love having members help with the work, it makes it so much better!!

Well, I think that's all I'll share for now, there were other cool miracles and such, but if I told you all of them you'd be reading for a week straight, since they happen everyday!!

I love you all and pray for you so much!!!

I hope you all know how much your heavenly father loves you and how blessed we are when we keep his commandments and follow in Jesus Christ's footsteps!

I read a scripture this morning that really made me realize that how we end up is our choice, it's Helaman 14: 30-31 and it says,

30 And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto ^ahimself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are ^bfree; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a ^cknowledge and he hath made you free. 31 He hath given unto you that ye might ^aknow good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might ^bchoose life or death; and ye can do good and be ^crestored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you.
I love how it shows us the agency we have, how if we want good, we have to do good.  Samuel the Lamanite is just so awesome.  I wish I could be as bold as he was, he's an inspiration for sure!!  I hope you all can make the choice to do good so that you can have good! I hope your weeks are full of good!!
I love you all so much!!!
Sister Thomas

What a week!!

So first off it was transfer calls!!! And I'm staying in Belfair, but unfortunately I'm losing Sister Chapman :(

I am getting Sister Hall though, yes her name does sound familiar, she's my MTC companion!! I know right! What the crazy!!

Well, I don't have much time because its not pday and we have transfer meeting and such so just the important stuff.

1:  New development on the physical side, yet again another thing to make life hard.  Everytime I eat anything with Gluten I get a crazy rash on my face that burns real bad, which means I have been Gluten free for the last week, waiting to get in and see a doctor to see whats up....that also means I now have no money because Gluten Free stuff is expensive!!!

2:  FREDDY GOT BAPTIZED!!!!

Sunday night was incredible! Freddy was baptized and he was so excited! He's 16 and I can't wait until I get the news in 2 years that he's going on a mission, people are going to love him wherever he goes. The ward was super supportive, and he got a di order form for clothes, bc he has no means to get his own, and he's so excited to have clothes so he can get the priesthood and pass and bless the sacrament.  I've never seen someone so ready to take off in the church!!  God truly blesses us!!

Well, that's the big news from the week, sorry this wasn't too long! I'm used to more time....

I love you all, and miss you terribly!!

I hope your weeks are fantastic!!

I LOVE YOU!!!

Sister Thomas

Miracles!

This week has been a good week.  There have been lots of hard times, but there were more miracles that the bad times seem little.  First off it was Halloween week!! Wednesday night we had a Harvest Festival in our ward!  It was awesome, there were so many non-members there with all the part-member families, and members bringing friends, the only problem, there are only 2 of us, and there were so many activities going on simultaneously that it was hard to talk to everyone.  It was a very stressful ward party, with people getting mad because we weren't spending enough time with their people, but we had to see everyone...man my head starts hurting just thinking about it, but good news, we got a 3 piece family (3 baptize age family) to start teaching.  They came with the Sturges, an awesome family in the ward and we should start teaching them this week!! We're excited!!

That night we went and stopped at McDonalds, because we didn't get to eat at the party due to so much socializing, and we decided to go inside (weird because we never go inside!) and there was a family sitting and eating.  We walked in and suddenly I recognized the man, I pointed at him, and so out of character said, "You're Carl right?"

he looked at me confused and said, "Yessss."

and I said "we're the missionaries, I ran into you up in Kitsap Lake with another girl and you said we could come see you, would it still be alright for us to stop by and teach you and your family a lesson?"

Then he recognized who I was and said, "Oh yeah, sister Thomas, yeah that'd be fine."

"Sweet." we said, "We'll give you a call and set it up!"

And then we got our food, said bye and left.

I can't remember if I told you guys or not but I met Carl up in Kitsap Lake 2 weeks ago when I was with Sister Hall on an exchange.  He didn't seem super open, but he agreed to let us come and gave us his number and address, and then at McDonald's it was just too much of a coincidence that we met him twice randomly.  We have an appointment with him on tuesday night, and I'm so excited, I think he could be the reason I'm in Belfair, to find him and teach him and his two kids!  So I'm excited for that!!

Another awesome miracle.  So this kid Freddy has been progressing really well, and then he got grounded (he's a crazy 16 year old boy....of course he got grounded :) ) anyway, so he hasn't been at church the last couple weeks, and we have no way of communicating with him so we were sad that he had disappeared, but then he was at church!!!!!

So....he pulled us out of Sunday School and asked if we could teach him a lesson, we said of course so we taught him the plan of salvation and the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Then we were setting a date for him to get baptized and he said,

"The 10th, I wanna do the 10th" and we were like,

"that's next Sunday" and he said "YEP!" so we told him all the stuff he has to do before then, got the record to him so he can have his dad sign it, and we are currently in bad headache panic mode to get his last lesson taught, him interviewed, and the program made by Sunday.  It will work out, but it won't be easy, especially since we have no direct communication with him, we have to work through a young man that he goes to school with.....man we need facebook, this would be so much easier! haha

Oh speaking of Facebook.  I think we may be getting it at the end of this month.  On Halloween during our zonemeeting we had a conference call and President Weaver announced that on November 23 a member of the quorum of the twelve and a member of the seventy are coming to visit our mission during their trip up to Washington, and we get to spend 2 hours with them!!! They don't know who is coming yet, but it would be so legit if it was Elder Bednar and Elder Dube, that's who I'm hoping for!! I'd said Uchtdorf, but since he's in the first presidency I don't know if he'd come....whoever it is it will be awesome!!

We're secretly hoping that with the member of the 12 also comes Ipads and Facebook.  They will make the work so much quicker!!!! It would be awesome!!

Then after the AWESOME news of the conference call we finished the meeting and then went on to our being locked in the church and being babysat by the senior missionaries! haha it was way fun though, we had a potluck and then we got to watch a technically not approved movie, but approved by President for the night! We watched Ephraim's Rescue, and if anyone reading this hasn't seen it, you've got to!! It's incredible!!! It's made by the guy that made 17 miracles and its about the pioneers and this guy who has the gift of healing.   It's seriously incredible, watch it!!! NOW!!

Well, lets see what else happened.  Oh, yesterday we got our apartment dedicated, because weird scary stuff was happening, and now it's like walking into a chapel, its so incredible!! I love the Priesthood and that we're able to literally feel the difference between good and evil. 

I think that's all for this week!! Now onto the stress of planning a baptism that will be a day that Freddy will always remember!! It will be amazing, and such a good thing to get Less Active members involved in!! I'll let you know how it goes next week!!

I love and miss you all!!

Have a great week!!

Sister Thomas

 

ps I love you SOO MUCH!!

 

pps I need Halloween Costume Pictures!! I wanna see how cute you all were, I was a missionary, so original right.  Oh funny story.  We were doing a trunk or treat after our zone meeting at the church on halloween and this little 9 or 10 year old boy walked by and said,

"Oh look at all those missionaries, they all need to go find girls to kiss"

and all the sisters just busted up laughing, it was so funnily inappropriate.....plus the elders were so embarrassed!! haha priceless!!

I LOVE YOU!!!