Monday, December 26, 2011

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!


Merry Christmas,

This week was a crazy week, but awesome! I hope everyone had a great Christmas! I had a wonderful Christmas. My week started off with saying goodbye to Sister Gifford and receiving my new “Greenie.” We drove to Utica and picked her up and it was the first time I had been to the new missionary meeting since I first got here. I tried to remember how I felt that first day I got there. (A little overwhelmed!) My new companion’s name is Sister Horne and she is from Centerville Utah. We got in our car and drove back to Syracuse. We didn’t even have time to drop her stuff off at the apartment and went straight into teaching. We had lessons all night which was way fun. Pretty much that has been each day since she has got here. We have been blessed to teach so much. I have been taking her around the "Cuse" and she has realized it is a lot different from Utah. We have had fun and Its been a learning process for both of us. I hope that I can do my best to teach and lead by example. We have been doing great so far! A lady (Sandy) that volunteers with us at the food pantry came up to us a couple weeks ago and told us that when she lived in California when she was younger she went to seminary with her friend. She said she really wants to get back in church and wants her kids to have that. We went and taught her on Saturday and she asked us what she needs to do to be baptized. It was one of those moments when me and sister Horne slowly looked at each other with our mouths opened. Haha We were like well..we teach you..hahah Afterwards Sister Horne turned to me and said “does that happen often?” I said “NO! But that was AWESOME!” We have been truly blessed with the work!

Christmas day was so perfect and I really coulnd’t have asked for anything different. We woke up and opened presents. (Mom spoiled me!) She is so awesome and it was way fun to open presents. Sunday was so great! We got to church and Sandy and her son made it. She was happy to be there and so were we. I also saw Bob which was a former investigator who had dropped us. He came with his son and it was so great to see him there! I told him if anything changes he has our number. Also a recent convert that we meet with came to church with her husband who is Jehovah's witness. I was so happy to see him I thought he would never want to come. We also picked up two potentials at church. It was seriously the best Christmas present anyone could ask for. Seriously Christmas miracle. I think I looked really stupid during church because I could NOT stop smiling. It was so funny! I was so happy that so many people came! I’m just so happy right now! We are going to be teaching a lot of great people right now and life is just good. I’m sure my companion thinks I’m so weird. She just doesn’t know whats going on cause she just got here so I had to fill her in on why I was so happy!

Some members had us over for Lunch and dinner and it was such a great Christmas. It was also very exciting to talk to my family. I was a little nervous at first to talk to them because I didn’t want to get out of the funk of not talking to them for so long. It went well and it was great to here from them, but my head is back in the game and I’m ready to get to work!

It was seriously the best Christmas ever and I’m so happy that I was here for it! Christmas miracles for sure! I hope you all had a great Christmas! I love you all so much! Have a very happy New Year!

Love,

Sister Stacey

Pictures: The sisters at Transfer Meeting and our new trainiee's
Christmas Morning opening presents!
Christmas Dinner! So fun!







Tuesday, December 20, 2011

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11



Hello,

This week was a great week! Its our last full week together. We got transfer calls on Saturday and Sister Gifford will be going to Bennington Vermont and I will be training. Yes I will be training and I'm a little nervous for it, but I know that it will be a great growing opportunity for me. I'm excited Syracuse will be a great place for her to start her mission. I have been working hard so she has some great people to work with when she gets here. It will be hard for her to start her mission right before Christmas so I'm going to try my hardest to make sure she has the best Christmas ever! We will have a lot of fun! We have had a pretty tight group here in Syracuse the Elders and us, but it has come and we are all leaving. Its been so much fun! Change is always hard, but we can never grow if we don't experience change. I know it will be a good thing.

Kind of a cute story this week. On Saturday we were pretty booked with a lot of lessons and we get a call from Edwin. He wanted us to come over and teach him. We asked him if something was wrong with the appointment we scheduled with him on Tuesday. He said nothing was wrong he was just reading in Mosiah about service (which we just gave me a lesson on it to him) and he wanted us to come over and read some more with him. He thought of us. It was such a cute experience. He is doing so great!

We are struggling with getting people to church, but we finally got one of our investigators to church. We have set her with a date for January so we hope she sticks through it. We have been praying a lot to find and I know that God answers prayers.

I'm excited for this week and to experience my first Christmas as a missionary. I am actually really excited and I know it will be a great one. I love this Christmas season and to be able to think more about our Saviour. I love Mosiah chapter 2 that talks about service. That when we are in the Service of our fellow beings we are only in the Service of God. I hope we can all think about that over this Christmas season. To serve others because that is what God wants and that's what makes him most happy! I'm so grateful for this opportunity to Serve him always!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! I'm excited to talk to my family it will be great!

I love you all

Merry Christmas

Love Sister Stacey

Pictures: We went to a gingerbread museum and ice skating with one of our investigators and the Elders. It was so much fun! Our last District picture we will all be changing this next transfer!








Tuesday, December 13, 2011

"she brought forth the firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger.." Luke 2:7


Hello,
I don't have to much to write about. This week we didn't teach that much because we are trying to find find find! We found a lot of cool people and we are excited to start teaching them in the coming weeks. We volunteer at a local church and help pass out clothes. This lady we work with started talking to us about how when she lived in California when she was younger she would go to seminary and mutual activities with her mormon friend. She is looking for a church for her family and would like to come. She had been under our nose this whole time. We aren't allowed to proselyte when we are on other church property so it was so coool to have her open up and talk to us. The Lord is so aware of us because we have been praying a lot to find new people.
There is a funny story and I probably shouldn't tell it because it might freak my mom out. We were trying some people that Sisters have taught in the past. We knocked on this one door and this guy answered and we asked if Tristian was home. The guy told us that he went to prison that week. (eeekkkk) Well because I have a funny sense of humor I said "O darn we should have come earlier!" The guy thought it was funny. This just kind of shows the area's we are in all day. haha It was really cool because we ended up having a 20 minute conversation on the doorstep with the guy who answered the door. We gave him a Book of Mormon and we are going to try him this week. It ended up begin a really cool experience!
So I have been in the Syracuse ward for almost 4 months and I have never seen someone do a musical number. (this ward isn't very musical) So I thought it would be a good way to get our investigators to church if I sang. Well of course I got sick again right before, but come Sunday when I got up to sing my voice worked perfectly. I really enjoy singing. Sadly we didn't get any of our investigators to come, but the Elders had some and the ward loved it. The members came up to me and were like "where did that come from?" The teenager boys came up and asked me for my autograph it was funny. haha I really do enjoy singing and the ward hasn't had that so it was a great experience. I hope I touched someone and helped strengthen their testimony. I know every time I sing about Christ it always strengthens mine.
I love this Christmas holiday and I love being here in New York for the xmas holiday! We had the ward christmas party this weekend and its just so good to all get together and focus on the Savior.
Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!
Love,
Sister Stacey

Picture: I love New York and the overacast City of Syracuse!
Picture: We went to a members home for dinner and they live on a farm! It made me miss my little sister! So I took this picture for her!






Tuesday, December 6, 2011

"..Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign..Behold a virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." 2 Nephi


"..Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign..Behold a virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." 2 Nephi 17:14

Merry Christmas,

I can’t believe it is December already, I’m very excited for the Christmas season! People already have their lights up and the season has already started. I'm excited to experience a Christmas as a missionary. I loved the Christmas Devotional last night. Christmas season is about Christ. The best gift I could give to him his to share his gospel and bring more of his sheep to the fold. I'm so happy I get to be here and I know this will be a great Christmas.
This week was a great week. We had Zone Conference which was amazing. My mission president talked all about the Book of Mormon. It was so amazing! We talked about how we need to use the Book of Mormon more in our missionary work. I have come to love the Book of Mormon. I didn’t know it very well before my mission. I’m so grateful for my mission because I have come to know the Book of Mormon and appreciate it so much more in my life. I have realized that it’s here to guide us along our personal paths in life. It’s there to give us comfort and direction. I love the Book of Mormon. We talked about how everything is determined on the Book of Mormon and no matter what anyone is going through the book of Mormon has answers!
Edwin went to the Temple this weekend and we saw him on Sunday. He was literally glowing he was so happy. He said it was the Holiest experience of his life. He got up and bore his testimony of the temple and it was just so powerful. He was able to be baptized for his son who was killed years ago in New York City. He was so happy! I love this gospel! The Gospel of Jesus Christ really brings happiness. I’m so happy for Edwin and it’s so great to be able to see him make this great progress in the Gospel. I love the Temple and I can’t wait to go this summer! Testimony meeting in the Syracuse ward is seriously amazing! It blows me away and strengthens my testimony each time I attend. Half the ward is converts and to hear them share their testimony is so powerful! The gospel can really change lives. The gospel has the power to do anything and I have seen that on my mission. It’s amazing!

I hope you all have a great week! I love my mission and I love the Book of Mormon!

Love,

Sister Stacey

Pictures:

Pic 1: In downtown Syracuse they have a huge Christmas tree decorated and Ice skating! Its so much fun!

Pic 2: We went to the mall here. Its the 6th largest in America. They had a carousal in it! so fun!
Pic 3: Our little Christmas tree! So fun!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

"We see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in...his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy....

"We see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in...his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever Amen." Alma 26:37

Hello,

This week was a great week! Thanksgiving was a wonderful day and I will remember this Thanksgiving forever. We woke up to a text from one of our investigators and he said that as he was reading the book of Mormon God spoke to him. We weren’t sure what he meant so we asked him to explain. He said that as he was reading he just felt at peace. We were so happy that he finally felt the spirit as he was reading. He said he wanted to come to church Sunday! We were so happy!

So we had our first thanksgiving meal with Ryla one of our investigators. We went with her mom and son to their friends home in Fayetteville. When we got there everyone welcomed us to their little family. They were all very nice! They of course were asking lots of questions which we didn’t mind at all. We ended up getting a women's name and address. She said we could stop by sometime. So that was exciting! We had a very traditional thanksgiving dinner which made me happy! Me and sister Gifford were really careful to watch our portions because we knew we would be going to another dinner. We thought we would be eating our first dinner at 3 so it would give us time to get ready for the next one, but they ended up eating later like 4:30. So we were a little worried. We left and headed to our next thanksgiving appointment. Round two was with some members in the ward. When we got there the Elders were already there and you could tell by the look on their faces they were just as full as us. They had also come from another appointment. The members kept bringing out more and more food. I was getting worried. So we all sat down to eat and they tell us that we pass our plates around and dish each other’s plate so I had no control over what they put on my plate. Sadly the dinner was so painful I was trying so hard to finish, but towards the end every bite I took I thought I might throw up. Haha I was looking at the Elders across the table and they were going through the same thing. I thought they were going to fall over. It was pretty funny! There is a saying .."there is always room for dessert” NO…there isn’t! I couldn’t even eat the pie and I love pie. It was painful! It was fun though and it was a great Thanksgiving! After we left I told sister Gifford I never want to eat food ever again! The next morning was probably the hardest it has ever been for me to get up. We didn’t eat the whole next day. Let’s just say it was a memorable day! I love Thanksgiving and it was one that I will always remember!

We had a cool experience this week we were looking up former investigators. We knocked on this door and the person we were looking for wasn’t home but her mother was. She was so nice and let us in and we started teaching her the first lesson. She was telling us all these things about how hard life has been with her granddaughter and family members dying. She even told us that she has been wanting to do family history. One right after another we didn’t know where to start we had so many answers to her questions. It was kind of funny! We were so happy that the Lord had led us to her. We have been praying to find some new investigators. We made sure to say a prayer after the lesson to thank the Lord for lettings us find her. We can’t wait to teach her again! I love missionary work!

This week was a great week and I did think of my family at home in Estes, but I’m so happy that I was here in New York for Thanksgiving. Its amazing how these people I just met 3 months ago welcome us into their lives and in their homes. These experiences will only happen on my mission. I’m so happy that I’m here!

Love Sister Stacey




Tuesday, November 22, 2011

"..Behold, here are the waters of Mormon and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people..." Mosiah 18:8


Hello,
This week was a great week. We have always had a baptism date with one of our investigators Dwight, but we kept moving it back. He came to Stake Conference which was good and he later told us that he broke down and started crying. He said that was very unusual for him. We explained to him that it was the Spirit. Dwight has had some awesome experiences with the Spirit. We met with him on Monday with our ward mission leader and the lesson was amazing! It was perfect and just what Dwight needed to hear. My ward mission leader is seriously amazing and his testimony is so powerful. He was a convert and dealt with some of the same struggles as Dwight did. Basically he asked Dwight do you believe this Book is True and he said yes. Do you believe that Joseph Smith is a prophet and he said how else would he be able to translate the gold plates so yes! He wants to be baptized, so Monday night we decided he would get baptized Saturday. So we planned the baptism in 4 days and called everyone who had taught with us and planned the whole baptism. It was crazy, but everything worked out. The baptism was Saturday night and it was so great! He was so happy he showed up early. He looked so happy and he was so surprised that so many people came to support him. He didn't realize how many people cared about him and wanted to be there for him at his baptism. He doesn't have any family or friends here so we have become his new "ward" family! He was so happy and everyone who was part of teaching him was able to participate in some way. Dwight is such a humble man and I'm so happy that we were able to teach him. He got up at the end of the baptism and said a couple words. He said "I thank the sister missionaries and I wouldn't have made it this far without them. They are great missionaries!" It was the sweetest thing! I'm so happy that I'm here on a mission and I was able to help Dwight along his path to return to his Heavenly Father.
On Friday we were able to help one of our investigators paint her Kitchen and it was really fun. It was great because we were able to talk and she really opened up to us about what she wants from us as missionaries and how knowing about Jesus Christ can benefit her life. It was a great opportunity to be with her. We had a lesson and after the lesson her son wanted to be apart of the prayer and he came over and sat with us. It was so cool! The hardest part is getting investigators to church... JUST COME!! haha So we are working on that with most of our investigators!
Its been a great week and I don't have too much time! I hope everyone will have a very Happy Thanksgiving!
I'm so thankful for this opportunity to be here in New York and bring people closer to Jesus Christ. I'm so Thankful for a family that Loves me and supports me in my decisions. I'm thankful for wonderful friends who write me (hint! haha) and are always there to support me! I'm so thankful for the Book of Mormon that I know I can be with my family forever and it can help get through anything. I'm so thankful for a Heavenly Father who loves me and knows what's best for me. I'm so Thankful for the spirit that guides me along and helps me through. I'm so thankful to be on earth at this time! There is so much more that I could write down, but I'm truly thankful for everything! I love you all and I hope you have a great Thanksgiving day!
Love,
Sister Stacey


Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Transfer #7...Half Way!!! ahh!!!


Hello,
I don't have very much time so I can't write too much. This week was kind of a slow week which is normal for missionary work. I did hit my half way mark this week on the 9th which was really weird. It feels like yesterday when I was driving to my first area. Time is really weird as a missionary some days feel like a week long and some weeks feel like a day long. I have so much more to improve on and still have 9 months to make it the best. Also on Saturday a year ago I opened my mission papers. I'll never forget that day as long as I live. I remember being nervous and excited at the same time. I'm so happy that I'm here in New York and I know this is where I'm suppose to be.
This week we had Stake Conference and our mission president and his wife spoke and it was fun to hear from them. We taught a lesson afterwards with one of our investigators. He has been out of town so we haven't been able to see him for a couple weeks. When we saw him he said that he still hasn't read and if he isn't that motivated to read then he must not be interested to learn more. We had planned to teach something else, but the spirit took over the lesson and we went a different direction and it went so great. We talked about prayer and I happened to mention a story that was told at stake conference about a man who lost his job and was looking for work. Our investigator opened up and said that he was looking for a job and he had a reason to pray. We gave him some scriptures to read that would help him, but he really seemed like he was going to do his reading! It was such a great lesson and I'm just glad that the Spirit was there. It was a great lesson and I'm so grateful for the Spirit guiding that lesson!
On Friday we got a call that a train by our apartment had fallen off the track and one of the carts was filled with propane. So we were evacuated from our apartment for awhile. They shut down the highway and we couldn't get anywhere. It also happened to be on the same night of the football game. It was pretty crazy, but we ended up making it back to our apartment. The propane didn't spill so we got to go back to our place for the night. It was a crazy day!
I'm so happy that i'm here in New York serving the Lord! I'm happy that me and Sister Gifford are here in Syracuse for another transfer!

Love you all,
Sister Stacey

Pictures:
Fall is coming to an end..but this is what Fall looks like in New York!



Tuesday, November 8, 2011

"...whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled..if he endureth to the end..him will I hold guiltless before my Father....

"...whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled..if he endureth to the end..him will I hold guiltless before my Father..when I shall stand to judge the world.." 3 Nephi 27:16

Hello,
This was another great week and it was extra special because Edwin got baptized! Edwin's baptism went so well and he was seriously so excited. When we saw him at the baptism his smile would not leave his face. He kept saying "I'm psyched out!" It was so cute. The baptism went really well and his wife who is a baptist minister came. He was so happy to have her there! After the baptism he said he felt clean. Sister Gifford asked him what he was going to do now and he said "I'm going to follow the Lord!' He is just awesome! The next day was fast Sunday and he got up and bore his testimony. It was powerful. I even saw him give the Bishop his first tithing. Its amazing to see the faith of these new converts. During sacrament meeting yesterday the 1st counselor in the bishopric got up and said that in the Syracuse ward they have had 18 baptisms this year and its the most they have had since 2002. This area is a blessed area! Edwin is so happy and I'm so glad that I could be apart of the process of him being baptized!
On Saturday we called one of our investigators to invite her to the baptism, but she said she couldn't walk because of her knee. She was in a lot of pain so we offered to let the Elders give her a blessing. She said that would be ok. So we went over with the Elders and a member and the member asked her which person she wanted to anoint and which one she want to have give the blessing. She turned to us and said "I want my lovely sisters to do it!" haha We had to explain to her why we couldnt' do it. She was very grateful for the blessing though. I'm so grateful for the priesthood. Every time these 19 year old missionaries give a blessing it just amazes me. You know its really by the power of God these Elders know what to say and do. I love the priesthood!
So this week has been really stressful because we knew that the call would come this week and tell us if we were staying or going. We call them transfer calls. Well the phone call came and we found out that we are both staying here in Syracuse! Sister Gifford and Sister Stacey going on three transfers together in the Cuse! We are both really excited about that! I'm excited because that means I will also probably be here in Syracuse till February! We got two new sisters this transfer. One of them was Sister Love who was the sister in the car accident with Sister Bentley. She is seriously my hero and is such a great example to me. She was only gone for one transfer recovering, but she is back. The best part is that she went to Glenville my last area. So I'm excited and she will love it here. She is amazing that she still wants to come back and serve. She is truly amazing! We also found out that a new Sister area opened and that is Lake Placid which is in the North Country and that is where the Olympics were. So I really would love to go there sometime in the future. It was a pretty exciting transfer call!
We had dinner with this single older women this week and neither of us knew who she was. We went to her house and we were eating and she told us that she has been less active for over 30 years and wants to come back. She asked us if we could come to her house once a week and she will feed us if we would re-teach her all the lessons again. I think my jaw dropped a little bit.. haha I was like..um.. YES!!! haha It was so cool and were excited to get her back to church!
It was such a great week! I'm so happy that I get to be here in Syracuse for another transfer! I love it here and I love being a missionary! I love being able to be apart of these people's lives and be with them as they progress closer to Jesus Chirst!

Love you all,
Sister Stacey

pic 1: Edwin's Baptism. Edwin is the one next to me
pic 2: Edwin Baptism
Pic 3: District Meeting!
pic 4: District meeting
pic 5: Distirct meeting goofy







Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Happy Halloween!


Hello,
This week was another great week. Last Monday night we had Family Night with the singles branch. The missionaries are in charge the 4th Monday of every month. We thought it would be fun to carve pumpkins. So we had some fun carving pumpkins and getting to know some of the members in the singles branch. It was a lot of fun!
This week Edwin had his interview and passed so we are planning on having his baptism this Saturday. We are pretty excited. Edwin went to the Pageant in Palmyra and the missionaries talked to him there and then that's how we started teaching him. He is such a great example to me in his efforts to do all the right things. He finished the Book of Mormon and we gave him Doctrine and Covenants and he has already started reading that. He asked us if we had anymore reading material about the church, that he wants to read everything. haha We started laughing and then explained to him about a church library. He was excited to learn about that. So he happens to be married to a baptist minister..yes! So we were telling him about the adversary and how he should watch out for anti stuff. He said that his wife's friend will drill him with Anti and that he will pull out scriptures from the Book of Mormon. haha He said don't worry about that.. he pointed to his heart and told us that there is no way anyone can change the feelings he has. No one can change his testimony. Its amazing to see how much he has grown and changed. Its amazing how powerful the atonement can be.
This week at District meeting we learned a lot about family history and how we can use this as a tool to find more people. I haven't really thought about this, but I'm excited to start to use it. I didn't think us missionaries needed to worry about it because we won't get to go to the temple, but after that amazing talk by Elder Bednar on the Spirit of Elijah I can see now how it applies so much to missionary work!
One of our investigators who is single branch age came to church yesterday. Before church we had a lesson with her on the Plan of Salvation. Then during sacrament the talks referred back to the lesson we just had. It was so perfect! I'm so thankful for the spirit because I for sure did not plan that! She really enjoyed it and she is excited to come next week. Out of all the people I have met with she has been the most prepared by the Spirit for this restored gospel. Its been an amazing experience teaching her! Its awesome!
We had our ward Halloween party on Saturday and it turned out great! We had two of our investigators come. They loved the idea of trunk or treat. Lots of people came and it was a great turn out. Me and Sister Gifford sort of dressed up as much as we could as missionaries. It was a lot of fun and I think the kids loved it!
It was a great week! I don't have too much time so I didn't have much to write. I hope everyone has a Happy Halloween!
Love you,
Sister Stacey


pic 1: Pumpkin Carving with the Singles Branch

pic2: Our awesome Pumpkin! My only Halloween as a missionary.. I had to carve a church pumpkin!

pic 3: Our awesome Trunk! Yay!

Pic 4: Me and our investigator. Her dad is Less active

pic 5: The Elders and Us at the trunk or treat!

pic 6: I had to take a picture with me and the Angry Bird only because I thought of my family. We love angry birds!



Tuesday, October 25, 2011

"....The Holy Spirit of God did come down from heaven and did enter into their hearts..they were filled as if with fire.." Helaman 5:45


Hello,
This week was another great week. On Tuesday I had a great experience that I will always remember. A member in the ward is good friends with a professor at a local community college. Each semester she has missionaries come in so that her students can ask questions. Its an Anthropology class and they did a section on mormons. So six of us missionaries went into a class room. We walked in and they had all these chairs set up in the front of the room. I felt like we were on exhibit.. It was the coolest experience to be able to answer there questions and show them that were just normal people like they are. I thought they were going to ask deep doctrine questions because thats what I'm use to as a missionary, but they just wanted to know about us and why we chose to be a missionary. We were all able to introduce ourselves and tell them where we are from and what we did before our missions. At the end of introductions a girl in the class raised her hand and said "I noticed that each of you said something about how happy your are..why are you all so happy?" A big smile went on my face because I know that I was happy because I have the restored gospel in my life. My companion did a great job at answer her question. The member that came with us told us that if we didn't know how to answer a question to just look at him and he would take over. Well of course the questions came up about polygamy and homo-sexuality and all of our heads turned to the member.. It was funny! They were all so amazed that we had taken this time out of our lives to come share this message. They seriously could not believe that we only talked to our families twice a year on the phone. I for sure cracked some jokes and brought some humor in answering some questions. It was so important to me that they saw that we are normal and we can have fun as well. I'm so happy that I had that experience and the chance to show them that. The spirit was definitely there and all of them took Book of Mormons afterwards. Not sure if anything will come of it, but we did plant some seeds. Now they know that mormons dont' have multiple wives..that's good enough for me. haha
We got a referral from Mormon.org from a girl named Melissa. We called her and she was really exicted to meet with us. We met with her on Thursday and she is basically amazing! She has cousins and an Uncle who are members living in Utah. She said she has really liked the way they lived and could tell a difference in their home. They gave her a book of mormon and the link to General Conference. She was basically describing the spirit when she telling us about when she watched General Conference. She said that when she goes to the Catholic Church she just feels like something is missing. She can't wait to come to church and read the book of mormon. These lessons are not normal and I usually don't like putting the title of "Golden" but she was pretty close to that. Sadly she is moving next month to Texas to join the Air Force. So we will teach her as much as we can before she goes and maybe she can connect with the missionaries there. I love that about the church. You can go to church anywhere you go in the world! Its amazing!
We had a great lesson with our investigators who are form China. Those lesson are seriously so awesome. They take a bit longer because we have to explain about Christ and Heavenly Father. Its really a great experience. Imagine what you would tell someone who doesn't know anything about Jesus Christ. What would you say? Where would you start? Its a very hard thing to do because there is to much. So we have to take a step back and start wtih square one..Christ and heavenly father. At the end of the lesson we asked one of themto say the prayer.. she paused and said "Does God speak Chinese?" We all started laughing.. it was fun!
We got an investigator to the singles branch which is the first time since I've been here. That was exciting and I think he enjoyed it. We had a lesson afterwards with some members and we taught the Plan of Salvation. Everytime I teach that it just confirms to me that this church is so true. God loves us so much that he created this great plan for us. We also taught this young mother yesterady. She was so spiritual and I could tell she is searching. She has two cute little kids and they reminded me of my cute niece and nephew. I want them to have the restored gospel. I can't wait for her to come to church next week. We have 18 investigators now and its really hard to manage them all. We have been super busy which is great! Teaching lots and thats what I love most!
Things here in the cuse are great! I love missionary work!
Love you all,
Sister Stacey






Tuesday, October 18, 2011

"Behold a Royal Army"


Hello,

This week was another great week! We started the week off with a great p-day, we went to the Zoo which was so much fun! My companion woke up Tuesday with this really bad tooth ache and it wouldn't go away. We happened to be at an investigators home that night and she was telling us that about how great her dentist was. We woke up the next morning and he hadnt' gone away so we called the investigator and she took us to her dentist. It turns out that my companion has to get a root canal. It was really nice for investigator to help us out, but kind of sad that we feel closer to her then some members in our ward. I felt so bad because my companion was in so much pain and her face was really swollen. It was hard for us to teach because I could tell she was in so much pain. This week was Zone Conference and we had the privilege to hear from Elder Paul Pieper from the seventy. We met in Liverpool and we were just a small group and it was so great to have one on one time with him. He came down off the pulpit and pulled a chalkboard down and said "we have 3 hours ask me your questions" So for 3 hours we asked questions and he gave some great advice. He use to be a mission president so he knew most of the things we go through and how to answer them. One of the questions that was asked was how do we love those that are hard to love. He gave some great advice. He talked about how Christ developed love one way was through his ministry and the second was the atonement. When the Father left Christ alone to suffer for all of our sins the one thing that kept him strong was his love for all of us. The only thing he had to hold on during that time was his love for all of us. He said that he likes to picture each one of us standing in front of him at that time as he took upon each of our sins and afflictions and knew us personal and what we went through. It was a great way to picture how much the Lord really does love us and has been through what we have been through. We love others by being humble and serving others. It was a great lesson that anyone could learn not only applying to missionary work. It was so great to be able to ask him questions and hear from him. He also compared us missionaries to the song Behold a Royal Army. The leader is our mission president and we are the faithful army doing the Lords work. It was cool to picture. It was a great opportunity to get advice and be with our fellow missionaries. It was a great weekend! Earlier in the week we got a referral from mormon.org so we thought we would go contact that referrall on Sunday. We went to this guys house and he was home and seemed excited that we were there. As we started the lesson he started asking all these questions and we could tell he had done a lot of research. He had studied mormon.org awhile before he agreed to have us come over. He said he was looking for a structured conservative religion. We were very excited to teach him and the lesson went so well. He is excited to come to church the next Sunday. We gave him a chapter in the Book of Mormon to read and he told us that he will just read the whole thing by our next visit. My mouth kind of opened a little..."really?! (that never happens) He seems really sincere to want to learn and we are excited to finally get someone to the singles branch. I love teaching people my age, I can just relate to them so much better. I'm excited and I hope that he will come to church next week! Edwin is getting closer to baptism and everytime we visit him we are able to hear his sweet testimony. We watched the 20 minute restoration dvd. Afterwards he was telling us that he was excited to actually visualize what we had been teaching him. He loved the part when he saw jospeh smith get the plates and when he was sharing it with others. He felt good in his heart is what he said. He is almost done reading the book of mormon. Its always great to hear his testimony and see how he has cahnged! I love being here in Syracuse new york! I love being a missionary! I know this gospel is true! I love you all!

Sister Stacey


Picture 1-5 ZOO!!!!

Picture 6 Zone Conference!!!








Monday, October 10, 2011

"And now my brethren, if our brethren seek to destroy us, behold we will hide away our swords, yeah even we will bury them deep in the earth.." Alma

"And now my brethren, if our brethren seek to destroy us, behold we will hide away our swords, yeah even we will bury them deep in the earth.." Alma 24: 16


Hello,
Another great week here in Syracuse New York. The weather here is very random, last week it was freezing cold and now its been in the high 70's. We better take advantage of the nice weather before the winter comes. We picked up four new investigators this week, and had some great lessons with our other investigators. The reason for my opening scripture was for our lesson with Dwight. He has been trying to quit coffee so we decided to read this chapter with him and relate it to coffee. It was fun and there were a lot of laughs. There is a part in the chapter where they bury the swords. We were going to bury his coffee pot, but he didn't want to do that. So we took it with us after the lesson. When we saw him at church on Sunday we asked how he was doing, he said "well I haven't had any coffee this morning!" So we hope that he can stay off coffee so he can get baptized next month! YAY!
So a couple weeks ago we were having a lesson with Dwight and his friend Li called and was worried because someone had broken into her place. He thought we could help so we went with him to see his friend. We got her number and told her if she needed anything to call us. We thought afterwards that it was a waste of our time and we probably shouldn't have gone. Well this week I was calling some potentials on the phone. We had another potential also named Li and I thought I was calling her, but it was actually Li (Dwights friends). I set up an appointment and I was all excited and when I looked at the address I realized I had called the wrong Li. I felt dumb, but then I realized this would be a opportunity to teach someone new. So this Saturday we went to her house and her roommate was there as well. They both are from China going to Grad school here at Syracuse University. They both wanted to learn more about the church, I was so excited! So we started teaching the first lesson, but it went completely different. Neither of them had any knowledge of God or Jesus Christ. So as we were teaching the first lesson we were able to go into depth and explain who Jesus Christ was and what he did. He was so cool! I have been wanting to teach people from China so badly. So I'm really excited! Its kind of cool that they haven't been drilled with this back knowledge of the gospel. They are fresh and new at Christianity. We gave them a preview on the Plan of Salvation and they can't wait to meet again. I'm really excited about them!
Saturday was full of lots of service, it was great. That morning we were able to help the Elders investigator garden and pull some weeds. Then later that afternoon we helped our investigator. She was having a birthday party for her son and they were all going to camp out in the backyard. She was so stressed so we went over to help set up the tents. I'm sure it looked so funny with two sister missionaries in skirts setting up tents. I wish I had a picture of that! Its a good thing I love camping and I know how to set up a tent. It was fun! All day we had been in and out of lessons and doing service the last lesson of the night was with a recent convert. Sister Gifford and I were seriously so tired and I'm not sure how we stayed awake, but we did it. I slept really well that night!
I'm really excited about some of these new investigators we picked up. The week goes by so fast and it all blends together so I always forget what has happened to write about on Mondays. I love being here in Syracuse! Its great to be on a mission! I feel so blessed to be able to have this experience!
I love you all,
Sister Stacey


Picture: We are putting together a Halloween party! I'm excited about it!



Pic 2: Some pictures of Syracuse and fall is coming!



Pic 3: Pictures of Syracuse


Pic 4: Our garden Service project! It was fun!


pic 5: Service!