Who's that random girl singing at my Funeral?

So first off I did something this week that I never thought I would do.  I sang a solo....at a funeral! There was a man who died that knew a member in our ward.  He wasn't a member but his daughter and her family were, so they wanted it in the church, and they wanted missionaries there.  So we agreed to go.  They asked Elder Penney, my district leader, to play the piano.  Over the week he asked if I would sing a little part in the special musical number he was doing, I said I would, then the night before it turned into me singing "Where can I turn for peace?"....by myself, in front of 100 non-members!! Who were mourning the death of their friend/father/husband's death! Apparently I did good, because my bishop asked if I'd be willing sometime to sing in sacrament meeting, and everyone said it sounded great! It was SOOOOOO scary though, I can't believe I did it! but I'm so glad that through God you can do all things!! I kept imagining the guy who died sitting in the spirit world thinking...."Who is that random girl singing at my funeral? Who invited her?"  haha! funny thought!

The rest of this week was pretty average.  Except on Saturday Jacob Rhoads got baptized!!!  It was really cool!! He was so ready!!  It is always so incredible to see a child of god come into the fold!!

We also had Stake Conference this week! It was really good! About missionary work and the importance of members, which fyi, MEMBERS ARE THE BEST!!  We as missionaries are at the bottom of the totem pole, but if a member is with us, all of a sudden we are magically cooler.  It's like the story of Alma and Amulek.  Alma teaches the people and fails, but then when God tells him to go back he gets the great member companion Amulek, who is one of the people and they together are able to teach so many people and baptize them!! If that doesn't show the importance of members, what will?

I am so grateful that I'm a missionary and that I'm able to be out helping God's children to come unto him and be baptized!! I can't believe the miracles that I'm able to see each day!! I love you all!! Have a fantastic week!! I love you all!!!!

Love you!!

Sister Thomas

PS--Picture is us with Jacob Rhoads, and his brother Jonathan

Another Week in the Life of a Missionary

This week was quite the week!! First off I'm emailing today because Monday was President's Day, and yesterday was Zone Conference so we were in Olympia all day!! I got to see the Clarke's again, they said they love you dad! They loved working with you!

Lets see all that has happened...

We checked up on a lot of potentials! There wasn't much success, except there was one referral from Spanish that has a lot of potential.  Her name is Virginia King, she's black and is super sweet.  She's been through quite the past and as we taught the Restoration she just ate it up!! It was so awesome!! We're going to see her again this week, I'm excited!

We also met with Jacob again.  He's getting baptized on Saturday! He has been investigating the church like his whole life pretty much, and has gone to church the last 3 years! And on Saturday he's finally getting baptized!! I'm so excited! It's going to be a great day!!

We also have stake conference this week! I'm excited to get to have a stake meeting, they're always really good! Plus they are all focused on Missionary work this year, so that's way AWESOME!!!!

We also got to yesterday, go to a RS activity that was way fun.  They had us bring an item that was connected to a scripture in a bag and then it was like the white elephant game, and we all picked one and then opened it! I got a cute plack that says faith on it and then has a little saying over top, it's way cool!!  The scripture that went along with it was "walk by faith not by sight"  It was a fun little game idea!

This week hasn't been super exciting, mostly because of course I got the flu which knocked me out for like 2 days......I hate being sick, I'm excited to get home and get like every test and then figure out what's wrong with me! It will be nice!

I hope you are all doing super well!! I love you sooooo much!!

Sister Thomas

SNOW DAY!!!

So, this week was quite the week!! I got a new area, a new companion, and a new kind of weather for Washington!

So this week has been pretty chill!  Sister Stevens is cool! She is from Ogden, UT and played volleyball through high school.  She went to Utah State, of course, and she has a cool style...she is one of a kind!!

We have 2 on date right now, and they are solid! It's cool, down here in tenino there are so many part member families that are wanting to learn!! We have Tom on date who is 10 and Jacob Rhodes who is 26.  The work here is good, but it's exactly like when I got to Belfair.  The past missionaries, except Sister Stevens did NOTHING so the ward expects that we'll hang out at their house all day and do crazy things with them.....yeah, not good, but I guess I've just been called to help build wards up because I'm willing to work!! I'm glad I got some of the harvest up in Belfair, but I'm ok with seed planting too, it has to be done sometime!!

I don't have any crazy stories except one:

Yesterday Church was cancelled!!!! There was like 6 inches of snow and so we had to stay in our apartments until like 2 in the afternoon when the snow had melted from the 50 degree weather....yeah Washington is weird!! Sister Stevens and I were just laughing thinking of all the times we went to school in like 2 feet of snow and that nothing skipped a beat, but the problem is that Washington doesn't have the equipment to clear the roads and such, so people driving are dumb and the roads are icy and there are tons of accidents!! It's crazy!!

Well, I wish I had more to tell you this week!! It's kind of been a slow week and I'm still trying to adjust to the new area and get to know everybody!! One day!! The worst is its usually awkward until the first Sunday, and then you meet everyone at church, but church was cancelled so I'll have to make it unawkward on my own!! It will be good though!

The church is true!! The book is Blue!! I know that through and through!! :) haha! I hope you are all doing well!! And fyi I now email from about 10-11 am and have an hour only so....yeah! Just so you all know when to send me emails :)

I hope you are doing so good!! I love you all SO MUCH!!!

Love,

Sister Thomas 

Rich says Hello.....and I say Goodbye

This week was a great one! Even though I got the dreaded news on Saturday that I'm getting TRANSFERED!!! :(

I am so sad to leave Belfair.  Belfair has become my Zion! I have come to truly know my Savior Jesus Christ as I have served in the blessed land!! I have seen his Atonement work in so many lives and have been able to see many of God's Children come unto Him through the waters of Baptism.

Freddy Villareal

Jimmy Kaylor

Crystal Kaylor

Lillia Blanco

Randy Bittner

and most recently (Feb 1st) 

GRANDPA RICH DENT!!!

Grandpa Rich is such a miracle!! He has shown me the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ!!  I didn't realize how precious the story of meeting him was until he told the story the other day.  On a dark Belfair night of tracting we knocked on a house....no one answered and we started to walk away...then a car pulls up, we awkwardly stand there deciding if its weird to go talk to them bc they aren't getting out of the car, we turn to walk away and a little girl says, "WHO ARE YOU?" we tell her we're the missionaries and she says...."Oh....ok" then runs off, we decide to talk to the man in the car and we find out he's from Bremerton and not interested.  We turn and walk away, this is the 3rd time, and then he says, "Girls, why don't you introduce them to your Grandpa?"....she says, "Ok" and takes us over to an old beat up trailer on the side of the house we just knocked on....YEP it was purely the spirit that lead us to him, we would have NEVER knocked it!

Now goes to his perspective he said,

"I was just sitting on the couch minding my own business, in the middle of something, and Angel runs in and says Grandpa there's some girls here to see you.  So I got up and came to the door, and I don't know why, because I never talk to religious people, but maybe since you were girls it made me nicer and I listened and it sounded good so I agreed to meet again. The Rest is History!"

I was crying as he told this story because I realized how inspired it truly was, even down to the fact that an "Angel" came and announced we were there.  God's plan is so detailed.  The fact that the granddaughter that introduced us was named Angel? It's just so precious! 

So he got baptized on Saturday and it was so awesome!! He has overcome so much to get to this day, the most awesome thing was after he was baptized he came out of the water and he let out a big breathe, and just sat and took it all in!! The spirit was SOOOO STRONG!!!!!  I love the Gospel!!

Oh, I never told you, I'm getting transferred to Tenino which is in Centrailia stake, which is south of Olympia, so I'm in for a change I think!! My new companion is Sister Stevens who came out the same transfer as my baby Sister Downs!! Who by the way is doing so good in Brazil!!! YAY!!

So yesterday as you all know was the superbowl, THE SEAHAWKS WON!!!! WOOHOO!!! Yeah, I always pick the best teams! :) We, the missionaries, were stuck in a church as a zone, and got to have a scripture bowl football style, it was actually WAY FUN!! We ate and played the game, and it came close, unlike the actual superbowl.  My team lost by 1 point because we went for the two-point conversion!! Just shows that greed never wins!!! haha!!

Well, that was about it for the week!! Just AWESOME!!!!!

Well, I hope you all have a great week!!

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

Love,

Sister Thomas

ps I'll get you my new address as soon as I get it!!! Love you!! 

Oh what a week!!

This week was GREAT!!! The highlight was definitely the Baptism of Brother Randolf Ben Bittner! :) I like his name, quite sophisticated! Anyway, it was a great baptism!! Not without stress though, Sister White who had a talk, and Bishop who was baptizing him didn't show up until there was like 2 minutes to the baptism....it was stressful, we were just running around freaking out! The bishop was running late b/c the youth were coming back from up by Seattle, so we didn't get mad at him :) Randy is so sweet!! He just has already changed so much!  We weren't super worried about the baptism, but we were so nervous on Sunday for him getting Confirmed.  If you don't remember he was baptized 4 years ago, but never got confirmed, so needless to say when he walked in the church at 9:59 we let out a HUGE sigh of relief!! He was able to get confirmed, and the coolest part was that Bro. Nielson got to confirm him.  Bro Nielson was the ward mission leader at the time that Randy was baptized the first time, and he said Randy not showing up to get confirmed was the hardest part of being a ward mission leader, he'd always been sad about it, so for him to be able to confirm Randy a member of the Church and give him the Holy Ghost, it was such a MIRACLE!!!

The rest of this week was a normal missionary week!! I'll go through each of our investigators again like last week!!

Rich Dent: Rich is back on date for baptism and should be getting baptized this next Saturday the 1st!! Can't wait for that, he's realized he needs to do it, now it's a matter of getting over his addictions!! He's doing so good!! He came to church yesterday and one of the speakers in Sacrament talked about the 12 steps of the churches addiction recovery program WHAT!! Inspired!!

Brad Baselt: Brad is on date to be baptized on Feb 8 (he's gonna be out of town for the superbowl...like everyone up here, next sunday will be interesting!)  We haven't even taught him about tithing yet, and yesterday at church he asked, "Hey, so how do you pay tithing here? I feel so blessed to be given so much, I want to give back".....WHAT!! It was so cool, we told him he didn't have to pay til he was baptized and he said, well 2 week then!! He is such a sweet man, see service works!! He's the one we met thanksgiving and in dresses and all we help load huge logs from the side of the road to his truck!! God works in miracles!!!

Donny Schmidt: I LOVE THE SCHMIDTS!!!! I honestly love this family so much!! Jasmine is a LA member and they have 3 little kids William (5), Delila (3), and Natalie (19 months, yes she was born on March 27 or 29th, she's like the same age as Avery, it's kind of fun).  We met them ward listing, and since then they have been awesome!! They all came to church yesterday including Donny, the Non-member husband!! He is the coolest guy ever!! He loves the gospel right now and learning about it!! In sunday school he offered to PRAY!!! It was so cool!! The other talk in sacrament meeting was for them, it was about Eternal Families and making it to the temple!! I can't wait to see them sealed as a family!! They are at the point in their lives where he is ready for the gospel, and she is ready for the temple!! I LOVE THE GOSPEL!!!! It truly BLESSES FAMILIES!!!!

Mariela and Jeffrey were both at their other parents houses this weekend so we weren't able to really see them!! They're both doing good though!! we have a lesson with the Molina's tonight, we're gonna paint prayer rocks! It should be a blast!!! Then we have an appointment with brad!! It will be great!!

Well, that was this week!! This next weekend should be craziness with the Seahawks being in the Superbowl!! Everyone is getting ready for their huge parties, we still don't know what they're gonna do with us that night, maybe we'll get to watch the game, that would be pretty sweet!! We'll have to see!!

I hope you are all doing well!  I want you all to know that I know that this church is true, I have never been more sure about anything in my life!! I'm grateful that I have a Savior that can help me through every obstacle of my life, no matter how bad it may be!! I'm so grateful that I have been able to see others use the Atonement in their lives, and because they have I know that not only I can, but EACH ONE OF YOU can too!!

I LOVE YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!  Have a great week!!

LOVE YOU!

Sister Thomas 

156.8 miles and 7 zones later......

This week was a very fun week!! My title refers to our Sunday excursion! Sister Scott received permission from president to be able to go back to Elma for a baptism of a family she was able to teach down there!! Now Elma from Belfair is 1 hour and 15 minutes south.  So we got there at 4.  That night we also had an incredible musical fireside in Gig Harbor, which is 1 hour and 15 minutes North-East of Elma, and we had to get there by at least 6:45.  We ended up making it, it was close though.  We realized as we were driving that we drove through 7 of the 11 zones of our mission, which means that we pretty much took a mission tour!! :) It was fun to be able to see my past areas....so fun!!

The rest of the week was just awesome!! I'll tell you about each of our progressing investigators:

Randy Bittner:  Randy is doing SOOO good!! He's getting baptized this Saturday!! I'm so excited! In his own words, "I'm going to do it right this time."  He's the one that was baptized 4 years ago, but never got confirmed, but we've helped him overcome what stopped him before and he's so excited!! It is going to be a joyous day!!

Rich Dent: Rich is finally starting to do better! This whole last week he has been in SOOO much pain! His back is really bad, he has some disease, I can't remember the name, but he has been in and out of the ER, it's been bad.  Friday night we were able to take a couple priesthood brethren (Brother Russell and Brother Shumaker) and they were able to give him a blessing! It was incredible, immediately after he said that the majority of the pain was gone! He felt relief!! He is so incredible!! He came to church on Sunday and said afterwards that he felt like everyone was talking directly to him, it was cool because Sister Scott and I kept saying, "Man, this is for Rich!"  He's at the doctor today to see how they can help him! We're praying it can get better so that he can get baptized, he really wants to!

Brad Baselt: Brad has been out of town this week, we should meet with him in the next couple days, He's still on date to be baptized on February 1st!! It will be AWESOME!! And he'll be way happy because the Seahawks made it to the SUPER BOWL!!!

Mariela Hernandez:  Mariela is the daughter of a LA member who we've been helping to come back to church.  She's 14 and is so sweet! She LOVES young womens and has started playing on the basketball team, and she's good!! They won their game on Saturday!!! She actually brought a friend with her to church on Sunday, who is going to join the basketball team!! I love when investigators are missionaries before they're even baptized!! It's so awesome!! Now if she would just read and pray about the Book of Mormon she would have the desire to get baptized...right now she's just kind of chill about everything!!

Jeffrey Bishop:  Jeffrey is such a sweet little boy!! He's 9 and wants to be baptized so bad.  This family in our ward just adopted him, and he LOVES church and scouts!! The hold up right now is because the wife is not a member and she doesn't want anything to be rushed, which is good.  He is so sweet though, we have an appointment each Thursday with him, and he should be getting baptized in March sometime!! I love teaching kids, it reminds you how simple the gospel is!!

Those are our main investigators at the moment!! We actually had 7 investigators at church on Sunday!! It was incredible!!

Today we're meeting with Donny Schmidt!! He is the husband of a LA member Jasmine! We met them going through the Ward list and they are such a special family!! Jasmine really wants to come back, she called sister Hall and I her angels when we came and met them, Donny is in the Navy and said since he got back from deployment he has wanted to learn more about religion and he wants to learn more about our church specifically to keep their family together!! We can do that!!! We're going to teach the Restoration tonight!! It should go really well!! I'm excited!!!

Those were the main highlights from the week!! Oh and also, the Seahawks made it to the SUPERBOWL!!!!! I'm so excited!! My first week out here I decided that I would forever make the Seahawks my team, and looks like I made a good choice! :)  The Weavers are trying to figure out what they'll do with us that night, since people here are crazy about their sports!! They seriously are incredible fans!! Every Fridayis BLUE FRIDAY, and I swear EVERYBODY is wearing Seahawk gear, it's pretty cool!!

Oh, we also had a fireside again on Sunday!! I love the firesides!! They are so spiritual, to be able to sing songs about Christ and help to strengthen others testimonies through song, it's such a great blessing!! I LOVE IT!!!

Well, I believe that is all for this week!! Belfair is INCREDIBLE!!!! I love it so much and the work is going so good!!! Which means that I'll probably get transferred :( but I don't want to!!! I want to stay at least one more, I've felt I'd be here 6 months since I got here, It's got to happen!!! :)

I hope you all have a great week, and that you're doing well!!!

I miss you and I LOVE YOU ALL SOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!

Love,

Sister Thomas

Another Missionary Week!

This week has been a good one! We have been able to see miracles and see happiness, of course mixed in with some sadness, as is life.  Besides getting the beginnings of the flu which I've tried to kill with vitamin C, this week has been great! We had exchanges on Tuesday, Oh exchanges....they are one thing I'm learning so hard to love more in the work! But this one was good!

I stayed in Belfair and got reunited with an old friend, Sister Crosby! It was fun, we talked about how much we had changed in the almost year since we had been companions! It's been quite the change! We had a jam packed day! The day started with a lesson with Randy!! He's still so excited to get baptized, we have to move it back since he didn't come to church yesterday :( but he's excited to get baptized and to get confirmed this time! It will be so great!!

We then had lunch, and then had a lesson with Grandpa Rich!! Oh how much I love Grandpa Rich, he's so awesome!! We talked about tithing, and he was so willing to pay it! He's so willing to do everything, the Word of Wisdom is still rough for him, but he's working through it! He should still be getting baptized on the 18th!!! I'm so excited!!! I will bawl like a little baby!!

We then had dinner, saw some potentials and ward list members and then we went tracting...aw man, the people were so mean to us that night, I don't know why.  Then we had a lesson with Brad, and it was a MIRACLE!!!!

We went and taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ! When we talked about baptism he was still pretty iffy about it all.  We told him it was up to him, no one would force him, but it was a necessary step.  Then we invited him to be baptized and he said YES!!! Then we invited him to be baptized on the 25 and he said YES! again!! It is such a miracle when you can see the spirit working in someone!! SO AWESOME!!!!

Then we met with Bishop and had a great meeting and went home!! It was a great exchange!!

The rest of the week was just sort of a regular missionary week!! Busy, awesome, and full of miracles!!

I wish I had more brain memory right now...I swear everything leaves my head as soon as I sit down and begin typing to you!

Oh, it was my year mark this week, that was CRAZY!!! I have so little time left, I can't even believe it, it's going to fly by before I even realize what's happening!!

Sister Scott and I went and got Ice Cream to celebrate! It was pretty fun! I reflected on the past year and realized just what a blessing it has been, and how much I've been able to grow!! There are still some things I struggle with, but I have a goal and drive to overcome them, because I can overcome anything through the Atonement of Christ!!

I know with all of the fiber of my being that this church is true, and it can and will change you IF you let it!! I know that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us so much that he has blessed us with families and with prophets and with the Gospel! I know that Jesus Christ's church that he set up when he was on the earth was Restored to the Earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith!! I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that church, and that The Book of Mormon is evidence of that! I am so grateful to be a missionary for my Heavenly Father, and I strive each day to follow his will more than my own.  I am weak, and I mess up, and I make mistakes, but I know that because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ I can be forgiven if I'm willing to turn away from the sin and turn to God and follow his example!!  I'm so grateful for you guys! God sent me to such a wonderful family, and provided me such wonderful friends because he knew that I'd need you in order to make it through this life happy. 

I hope you all have an amazing week!! I hope you will all repent in some way each day, there's a lot each of us can repent of each day, just DO IT!! Repentance is just a fancy word for change.....so change for the better!!!!

I love you all so much!! I miss you like crazy, but don't be offended when I say, I wouldn't wanna be anywhere but here!!

I hope you have a great week!! I love you!!!!!!

Love,

Sister Thomas