I had my first baptism this week. Chery Sales got baptized on April 16! I have never seen anyone more happy! It's amazing to see how far she has come. I just love missionary work! The other baptism we had didn't go through, but we are still working with Daniel. Also we have a date set for the two sisters Neira and Mimi. There date is set for the 30th, but it is also prom day so we might end up pushing it back for the next week.
I still can't believe how fast time flys by! It's already the start of my third transfer. I was possitive that I was getting transfered. I had over heard the zone leaders talking about it and everything. Well guess what...I'm staying in Roswell for at least another 6 weeks!! :) and to top it off we got a third companion!! Her name is Sister Sainsbury! She is from Murry, Utah and is so funny. Both her and Sister Robinson were MTC companions. So now they are reunied. They both go home in three months. So who knowns what wil happen. They just might keep me here forever so I can show the new sisters that come to roswell the area.
well our big focus in the mission right now is faith!!! The average amount of baptisms a month here is 40. We have never beat 42. Well President Robison had a conference with some of the 70, and twelve apostles. Elder Ballard told him that if we had faith we could baptize in the upper 80s!!!! So we all fasted as a mission last week so that we could start working towards that goal. In the next month we want to hit 50! It would be a mission high. One thing that really stuck out to me is something that President told us on a conference call. He said, "Hope is the faith that if we act now miracles will occur!" What a true statement! I know that if we can all just build our faith, miracles really will occur in our lives! I love this gospel so much. It has changed my life in so many different ways. I am thankful for the chance that I have been given to serve a mission! I miss and love you all so much!
Love Forever,
Sister Tracy
Apr 21, 2011
Apr 17, 2011
April 14, 2011 Letter
It's crazy how fast time flies by!!! This is the last week of our transfers! I will know on Monday (18th) if I am staying or leaving. I really hope I stay here, but I feel like I might end up being transfered. I know that no matter where I go though it will be awesome. So far we haven't had any baptisms, but Cheryl Sales gets baptized on Saturday!!! I am so excited for her!!! She went out of town this week and comes come tonight. So yesterday my companion and I went and Chalked her entire driveway saying things like, "We Love You!" and "You're gettin' baptized!" Ha Ha It was really fun! Also we were supposed to have another baptism with Daniel Juarez on Sunday, but some things have come up and so we had to push it back a week or so. Hopefully it will all workout soon. We also have two dates set with two sisters, Neira and Mimi. They are 16 and 17 years-old. It's so weird cause when we go over there we all just laugh and have a good time. I feel like I'm teaching Sammy! It makes me miss her a lot. But anyway tons of exciting things have been happening this week! We have been so busy and have been riding our bikes so much!!! I swear, when I get home I'm signing up for a bike marathon! Ha Ha Ha
Well today was a really fun Pday. We went to the Carlsbad Caverns. It is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the world. We had a member who asked if he could take us down there. But once we were there we hiked 750 feet down into the ground. It was pretty awesome. One if the things that the Carlsbad Caverns are know for are the bats!! CREEPY; I KNOW RIGHT!!!! Well we didn't hike into the "bat cave" cuz they have it all blocked off. But they were definitely in there. Everynight people from all over come and sit in this little ampitheater, and at dusk thousands of bats leave the cave. So the bats are just right there by your head. It seems pretty creepy to me! Not my idea of fun, but it definitely was interesting to learn about. I will have to send you guys a picture of it! It's so crazy!!! So anyway that's pretty much what we did all day today. It took two hours to drive there, then three hours to hike it. If you are ever in the area you should definitely go! It's definitely worth seeing!
I'm not sure what else is really new around here....Just working hard and having fun. We have met a few crazy people lately, but that's not really news, cuz that happens all the time here in Roswell. Ha Ha Ha
So I guess I never really told you about our apartment, but It's really nice. It is more like a little town home. We have a garage, and two rooms, a pretty big kitchen and living room. It's also in a really nice area!!
Conference was great I loved it and took tons of notes.
Well I have to run, but I will write home soon! Love you guys!!!
Sister Tracy
Well today was a really fun Pday. We went to the Carlsbad Caverns. It is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the world. We had a member who asked if he could take us down there. But once we were there we hiked 750 feet down into the ground. It was pretty awesome. One if the things that the Carlsbad Caverns are know for are the bats!! CREEPY; I KNOW RIGHT!!!! Well we didn't hike into the "bat cave" cuz they have it all blocked off. But they were definitely in there. Everynight people from all over come and sit in this little ampitheater, and at dusk thousands of bats leave the cave. So the bats are just right there by your head. It seems pretty creepy to me! Not my idea of fun, but it definitely was interesting to learn about. I will have to send you guys a picture of it! It's so crazy!!! So anyway that's pretty much what we did all day today. It took two hours to drive there, then three hours to hike it. If you are ever in the area you should definitely go! It's definitely worth seeing!
I'm not sure what else is really new around here....Just working hard and having fun. We have met a few crazy people lately, but that's not really news, cuz that happens all the time here in Roswell. Ha Ha Ha
So I guess I never really told you about our apartment, but It's really nice. It is more like a little town home. We have a garage, and two rooms, a pretty big kitchen and living room. It's also in a really nice area!!
Conference was great I loved it and took tons of notes.
Well I have to run, but I will write home soon! Love you guys!!!
Sister Tracy
Apr 7, 2011
April 7, 2011 Letter
Well this week has just been amazing! One thing that my companion and I were really struggling with was finding new investigators. Well we decided to fast as a companionship so that we could find people to teach. We were driving along a super deserted road and just pulled over and prayed right there, and then to start our fast. Well that was on Monday and since then we have had six new investigators!! I LOVE FASTING!! Even those that we were already teaching have started to progress so much!!! We have two baptisms that should be going through next Saturday and two for April 30th. They have all been coming to church. And two of the girls we taught even came to mutual! Oh man! It has just been so great!!! It's starting to get really hot here, and we have been on our bikes a ton, but it has been such a blessing because we get to talk to more people and find new investigators! I'm so thankful that I am able to serve a mission! It really doesn't matter where you are called because the gospel is needed everywhere! I am thankful for all of your prayers and support! I love the letters that I get from all of you!! I hope all is well. I love and miss ya tons!
Love Always!
Sister Tracy
Love Always!
Sister Tracy
Apr 2, 2011
March 31, 2011 Letter
WOW!!! I can't believe it's already April. (or at least, almost April!) Time sure does just fly by!!! So far I have loved every single second of my experience here! We have had our share of bad and good times, but I wouldn't trade a second of it! I know I sound like a broken record but I know this is exactly where I need to be right now!! It's crazy how the Lord knows exactly what we need, ever before we ever realize it!
This last week has been really good! I've gotten a new sense of enthusiasm!! My companion and I have set some awesome goals and we are just not letting anything get us down! It's amazing having someone to lean on during the good and bad times. We are able to support and encourage each other in everything we do! I'm so thankful for Sister Robinson! I don't know how I'd do it without her! This week was big of coarse just because we finally got a house!! We where officially homeless for a month, but we were finally able to move into our new apartment last Friday!!! It feels so great to finally be able to settle down and get back on track! It is a pretty big place. Two bedrooms and a big living room! We even have a garage! It is really nice, and we just don't even know what to do with all of the space! :)
Last Pday we went to the Roswell Zoo! It wasn't the best ever but for how small Roswell is, I was pretty impressed! Ha Ha I LOVE THE ZOO!! It just felt like we were little kids again running around and getting all excited about the monkeys and Leopards!!!!
We were also able to start teaching a few new families this week! One of our new investigators names is Kaylee. She is about to turn 9, and her grandparents really want her to get baptized! I got to go to primary with her last Sunday and it was so much fun! I love little kids so much! They are just innocent and have such strong desires to do what is right! They all are just trying so hard to do what is right! Our world with be so much better if we would all just try to be more like them!
This week was just great for two reasons! First off, Cheryl Sales got interviewed for her baptismal date and she is good to go!!! :) She has gone over two weeks without smoking now and is so excited to get baptized!! Words just can't describe how much I love this Woman!!! I can't wait for her to be baptized! Her original date was set for the 9th, but her whole family really wants to come. They aren't all members and so we are so excited that they are all so supportive of her. Anyway, they are going out of town that day, so we have to push it back a week, but we are still so excited for her!!!! The second amazing thing that happened was that I set a baptismal date! So far Sister Robinson has been the one to ask everyone, but last Friday I set one with a boy named Daniel. It's the first one I've done all on my own!!! :) He came to church last week and said he just loved it! He has been reading a ton from the Book of Mormon and says he knows it's true. He will tell us all these stories about the people who feed him anti about the church and how he totally defends us, and says he knows their comments are so dumb and they have no clue what they are talking about! Ha Ha I'm so excited for him. We also set his date for the 16th. We are so excited for both of them! The work is really starting to come along. It's amazing how the Lord blesses us when we start to be more obedient and really try to strengthen of faith in finding.
In Alma 21, in the Book of Mormon, it talks about Aaron and his brethren. They go forth to teach the gospel to the Amalekites. They are then imprisoned. The people have rejected their words, and yet they don't loose their faith. It says that they suffered many things, but the second they got out they went straight back into the city and began preaching! They knew how important it was, and so nothing could stop them! Eventually many people listened to them and many believed on their words. I think many times that's how life is. We try to do what is right and then the bad comes. But during those bad times we can not loose our faith! If we just keep persevering God will eventually bless us and we can have great success in our lives! I love you all so much! I pray for you and wish you all the best! Don't give up and keep going! I know the Lord strengthens us in our adversities!
Love
Sister Tracy
This last week has been really good! I've gotten a new sense of enthusiasm!! My companion and I have set some awesome goals and we are just not letting anything get us down! It's amazing having someone to lean on during the good and bad times. We are able to support and encourage each other in everything we do! I'm so thankful for Sister Robinson! I don't know how I'd do it without her! This week was big of coarse just because we finally got a house!! We where officially homeless for a month, but we were finally able to move into our new apartment last Friday!!! It feels so great to finally be able to settle down and get back on track! It is a pretty big place. Two bedrooms and a big living room! We even have a garage! It is really nice, and we just don't even know what to do with all of the space! :)
Last Pday we went to the Roswell Zoo! It wasn't the best ever but for how small Roswell is, I was pretty impressed! Ha Ha I LOVE THE ZOO!! It just felt like we were little kids again running around and getting all excited about the monkeys and Leopards!!!!
We were also able to start teaching a few new families this week! One of our new investigators names is Kaylee. She is about to turn 9, and her grandparents really want her to get baptized! I got to go to primary with her last Sunday and it was so much fun! I love little kids so much! They are just innocent and have such strong desires to do what is right! They all are just trying so hard to do what is right! Our world with be so much better if we would all just try to be more like them!
This week was just great for two reasons! First off, Cheryl Sales got interviewed for her baptismal date and she is good to go!!! :) She has gone over two weeks without smoking now and is so excited to get baptized!! Words just can't describe how much I love this Woman!!! I can't wait for her to be baptized! Her original date was set for the 9th, but her whole family really wants to come. They aren't all members and so we are so excited that they are all so supportive of her. Anyway, they are going out of town that day, so we have to push it back a week, but we are still so excited for her!!!! The second amazing thing that happened was that I set a baptismal date! So far Sister Robinson has been the one to ask everyone, but last Friday I set one with a boy named Daniel. It's the first one I've done all on my own!!! :) He came to church last week and said he just loved it! He has been reading a ton from the Book of Mormon and says he knows it's true. He will tell us all these stories about the people who feed him anti about the church and how he totally defends us, and says he knows their comments are so dumb and they have no clue what they are talking about! Ha Ha I'm so excited for him. We also set his date for the 16th. We are so excited for both of them! The work is really starting to come along. It's amazing how the Lord blesses us when we start to be more obedient and really try to strengthen of faith in finding.
In Alma 21, in the Book of Mormon, it talks about Aaron and his brethren. They go forth to teach the gospel to the Amalekites. They are then imprisoned. The people have rejected their words, and yet they don't loose their faith. It says that they suffered many things, but the second they got out they went straight back into the city and began preaching! They knew how important it was, and so nothing could stop them! Eventually many people listened to them and many believed on their words. I think many times that's how life is. We try to do what is right and then the bad comes. But during those bad times we can not loose our faith! If we just keep persevering God will eventually bless us and we can have great success in our lives! I love you all so much! I pray for you and wish you all the best! Don't give up and keep going! I know the Lord strengthens us in our adversities!
Love
Sister Tracy
Mar 28, 2011
March 24, 2011 Letter
So today has been my official two month mark of being in the field!!! It's so crazy to even think about!!! Just 16 more months to go! Ha Ha This week has been good so far. Some days were kind of slow but some days were just great! We didn't end up having a baptism this last weekend. She got really sick and so she hasn't been coming to church. Seems like we are going to have to hold off on her for a while. But on a better note we set three baptismal dates on Sunday!!! Can you say best day ever!!!!
The first two dates are with a set of sisters, Mimi and Neira. They are both in high school and remind me of Samantha back home. We set their date for April 16, 2011. They both know that this church is true and want to get baptized. The only tricky thing is getting them to church because they work and so they don't know if they can get it off. We'll just have to keep praying for them!
The second date we set is with Cheryl Sales! I seriously love this woman so much! She has a kind of crazy story. In the 70's she got baptized, but couldn't remember ever getting confirmed. Well because they have to go hand in hand, if you're not confirmed after baptism you have to then be re-baptized. So we searched and searched the records for her but she isn't there. So we set a date for her to get baptized on April 9! Hope's Birthday!!! :) She has been smoking for the last 40 years, so we had to help her quit smoking. Her last cigarette was last Wednesday when we re-taught her about the word of wisdom! Since then she hasn't had even one! We have seen her everyday since then and you can just see how much happier each day that we go see her! Her family is so supportive and we have all become so close with all of them! I am just so excited about her baptism. Most likely she will be the first person who I'll get to see get baptized.
Other then that the work is just coming right along. We have been riding our bikes a lot. I'm starting to get pretty tan! :) Summer is definitely on it's way! I am so excited for Conference which is coming up here very quickly! There is just something about conference that really touches my heart!! I hope all of you take the time out of your weekend to listen to the prophet's counsel! I know that what they have to say can really touch our lives!!! I hope you know that I love you all so much and miss ya! I miss ya, but the mission is the best thing I think I ever could have chosen to do! I wouldn't give up this experience for anything or anyone! I know that God blesses us for doing what he asks of us! Know that I pray for you everyday!
Love,
Sister Tracy
The first two dates are with a set of sisters, Mimi and Neira. They are both in high school and remind me of Samantha back home. We set their date for April 16, 2011. They both know that this church is true and want to get baptized. The only tricky thing is getting them to church because they work and so they don't know if they can get it off. We'll just have to keep praying for them!
The second date we set is with Cheryl Sales! I seriously love this woman so much! She has a kind of crazy story. In the 70's she got baptized, but couldn't remember ever getting confirmed. Well because they have to go hand in hand, if you're not confirmed after baptism you have to then be re-baptized. So we searched and searched the records for her but she isn't there. So we set a date for her to get baptized on April 9! Hope's Birthday!!! :) She has been smoking for the last 40 years, so we had to help her quit smoking. Her last cigarette was last Wednesday when we re-taught her about the word of wisdom! Since then she hasn't had even one! We have seen her everyday since then and you can just see how much happier each day that we go see her! Her family is so supportive and we have all become so close with all of them! I am just so excited about her baptism. Most likely she will be the first person who I'll get to see get baptized.
Other then that the work is just coming right along. We have been riding our bikes a lot. I'm starting to get pretty tan! :) Summer is definitely on it's way! I am so excited for Conference which is coming up here very quickly! There is just something about conference that really touches my heart!! I hope all of you take the time out of your weekend to listen to the prophet's counsel! I know that what they have to say can really touch our lives!!! I hope you know that I love you all so much and miss ya! I miss ya, but the mission is the best thing I think I ever could have chosen to do! I wouldn't give up this experience for anything or anyone! I know that God blesses us for doing what he asks of us! Know that I pray for you everyday!
Love,
Sister Tracy
Mar 22, 2011
Melinda's Letter - March 17, 2011
HAPPY SAINT PATRICKS DAY!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm with Mitch, when he says time really is just flying by. It's weird to think that we are going to be calling home to talk to you in just a month and a half. WEIRD!! Time isn't really a concept out here sometimes.
This last week has been kind of slow. So we are still homeless! :( We have been homeless for three weeks now, and have just been skipping from place to place. Hopefully we will have a place to live by next week!!! Last Wednesday we stayed with a family who ended up being really sick. Well to say the least both my companion and I also got really sick! We were down for almost four days. It is no fun being sick, especially when you aren't even at your own house! Plus you feel bad, because you don't want to get the members sick. We would have stayed with the original family that got us sick, but because of how old they are, they ended up being hospitalized because of how sick they were. But, we are all feeling better now!
It has been getting pretty hot here in Roswell!!! It's averaged about 85 everyday, but because it is so dry it feels hotter then that. I have some pretty sick shoe tan lines though!! They are awesome! I will have to send you guys a picture soon!
One of the coolest experience for me this week was going to visit one of our less active members in the hospital. It's weird how it all fell into place...So we had planned out our whole day the night before. We had planned to go and visit a lady named Donna Foster at 6 and another lady named Carol Burnette at seven. We had been trying to see Carol Burnette for the last couple days, and had had no success. So anyways we went to see Donna at six. When we got there she was already in bed, and said she was too tired to talk. We asked her if there was anything we could do to help her out and she said, "Yes, could you please go visit my mother Carol Burnette. She is at the hospital because she is having some issues breathing." 1st off...we had no idea they were related, and 2nd she was someone we had been feeling like we needed to go visit but couldn't get a hold of. It was amazing that we had come to the right place to find out how to find her. We then called a member from the ward and asked if she wanted to come with us. Sister Jackson agreed, and we met at the hospital a few minutes later. We walked up to the Carol's room, and to our dismay saw that she was sleeping. At that moment I looked over at the bed next to Carol and saw another old woman. I just had the strongest feeling that i needed to talk to her instead. I just went over and started talking. I think my companion must have thought me to be half crazy as I started talking to some sick stranger. Well comes to find out, this older woman, Rose, had been in the hospital for weeks and had had no visitors at all. My heart just hurt for her. We sat and talked with her for a bit. You could see the light coming back to her face as she talked to people and realized that she was not forgotten and that people did care about her. Sister Jackson then told her that she would come back the next day and visit. I know that it was inspiration to bring Sister Jackson, because she needed to be there for that other lady. We finally said our goodbyes and left the room. We didn't even make it half way down the hall when I said, we need to go back and sing to her. I don't know why I would even feel that way, because I don't really care to sing. I just felt like we needed to. We went back to Rose's room and sang, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives." I don't know if our singing helped anyone else, but I know that It made my testimony grow, and it touched my heart. As we sang I looked around and realized that everyone in that hospital was going through some kind of hard time. Sickness and Death surrounded us everywhere. Even in the world outside sickness and death surround us with the disasters that have struck Japan and many other places. Many people are in anguish and feel alone. Lives are broken. As I sang the words, "He lives" It all just clicked. Sometimes we can't explain why certain things happen in life. We don't know why good people get sick, die, and are left alone. But that is where faith comes in. HE LIVES, and because of that we truly can sing! Because he lives everything will eventually fall into place! He truly knows what we are experiencing and because of that we are never alone!!!!
"He lives to silence all my fears, he lives to wipe away my tears, he lives to calm my troubled heart. He lives all blessings to impart. He lives and grants me daily breath, he lives and I shall conquer death, he lives my mansion to prepare. He lives to bring me safely there. He lives! All glory to his name! He lives, my Savior, still the same. Oh, Sweet the joy this sentence gives:
"I know that my Redeemer lives!""
He does live! I know this with all my heart!! I know he loves each and everyone of us!! Never forget that he is there and is helping us in every aspect of life. He will never leave us comfortless! I am so thankful for the Atonement of my Savior. I can't wait for the day when I can fall and his feet and thank him. My heart is so full of love for the sacrifice that he made for me!! I love him and can never forget what he has done for me!
There are some things that I would suggest for all of you to watch!!!! I want you to go and watch the "Mormon Messages" You can find them on LDS.org. They are all amazing but the one I really want you to look up is, "Hope ya Know, We had a Hard Time" by Elder Quentin L. Cook. This message just reminds us that we are not alone. Because of his atonement eventually things will work out and that he is still with us through all of hardships, no matter what they may be!
I love you all so much!! You are still in my prayers! I'm so thankful for the letters and packages I've received these last few weeks! They are something that I really look forward too, and really brighten my day! I miss ya tons! And hope all is well!!!
Love Always,
Sister Tracy
I'm with Mitch, when he says time really is just flying by. It's weird to think that we are going to be calling home to talk to you in just a month and a half. WEIRD!! Time isn't really a concept out here sometimes.
This last week has been kind of slow. So we are still homeless! :( We have been homeless for three weeks now, and have just been skipping from place to place. Hopefully we will have a place to live by next week!!! Last Wednesday we stayed with a family who ended up being really sick. Well to say the least both my companion and I also got really sick! We were down for almost four days. It is no fun being sick, especially when you aren't even at your own house! Plus you feel bad, because you don't want to get the members sick. We would have stayed with the original family that got us sick, but because of how old they are, they ended up being hospitalized because of how sick they were. But, we are all feeling better now!
It has been getting pretty hot here in Roswell!!! It's averaged about 85 everyday, but because it is so dry it feels hotter then that. I have some pretty sick shoe tan lines though!! They are awesome! I will have to send you guys a picture soon!
One of the coolest experience for me this week was going to visit one of our less active members in the hospital. It's weird how it all fell into place...So we had planned out our whole day the night before. We had planned to go and visit a lady named Donna Foster at 6 and another lady named Carol Burnette at seven. We had been trying to see Carol Burnette for the last couple days, and had had no success. So anyways we went to see Donna at six. When we got there she was already in bed, and said she was too tired to talk. We asked her if there was anything we could do to help her out and she said, "Yes, could you please go visit my mother Carol Burnette. She is at the hospital because she is having some issues breathing." 1st off...we had no idea they were related, and 2nd she was someone we had been feeling like we needed to go visit but couldn't get a hold of. It was amazing that we had come to the right place to find out how to find her. We then called a member from the ward and asked if she wanted to come with us. Sister Jackson agreed, and we met at the hospital a few minutes later. We walked up to the Carol's room, and to our dismay saw that she was sleeping. At that moment I looked over at the bed next to Carol and saw another old woman. I just had the strongest feeling that i needed to talk to her instead. I just went over and started talking. I think my companion must have thought me to be half crazy as I started talking to some sick stranger. Well comes to find out, this older woman, Rose, had been in the hospital for weeks and had had no visitors at all. My heart just hurt for her. We sat and talked with her for a bit. You could see the light coming back to her face as she talked to people and realized that she was not forgotten and that people did care about her. Sister Jackson then told her that she would come back the next day and visit. I know that it was inspiration to bring Sister Jackson, because she needed to be there for that other lady. We finally said our goodbyes and left the room. We didn't even make it half way down the hall when I said, we need to go back and sing to her. I don't know why I would even feel that way, because I don't really care to sing. I just felt like we needed to. We went back to Rose's room and sang, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives." I don't know if our singing helped anyone else, but I know that It made my testimony grow, and it touched my heart. As we sang I looked around and realized that everyone in that hospital was going through some kind of hard time. Sickness and Death surrounded us everywhere. Even in the world outside sickness and death surround us with the disasters that have struck Japan and many other places. Many people are in anguish and feel alone. Lives are broken. As I sang the words, "He lives" It all just clicked. Sometimes we can't explain why certain things happen in life. We don't know why good people get sick, die, and are left alone. But that is where faith comes in. HE LIVES, and because of that we truly can sing! Because he lives everything will eventually fall into place! He truly knows what we are experiencing and because of that we are never alone!!!!
"He lives to silence all my fears, he lives to wipe away my tears, he lives to calm my troubled heart. He lives all blessings to impart. He lives and grants me daily breath, he lives and I shall conquer death, he lives my mansion to prepare. He lives to bring me safely there. He lives! All glory to his name! He lives, my Savior, still the same. Oh, Sweet the joy this sentence gives:
"I know that my Redeemer lives!""
He does live! I know this with all my heart!! I know he loves each and everyone of us!! Never forget that he is there and is helping us in every aspect of life. He will never leave us comfortless! I am so thankful for the Atonement of my Savior. I can't wait for the day when I can fall and his feet and thank him. My heart is so full of love for the sacrifice that he made for me!! I love him and can never forget what he has done for me!
There are some things that I would suggest for all of you to watch!!!! I want you to go and watch the "Mormon Messages" You can find them on LDS.org. They are all amazing but the one I really want you to look up is, "Hope ya Know, We had a Hard Time" by Elder Quentin L. Cook. This message just reminds us that we are not alone. Because of his atonement eventually things will work out and that he is still with us through all of hardships, no matter what they may be!
I love you all so much!! You are still in my prayers! I'm so thankful for the letters and packages I've received these last few weeks! They are something that I really look forward too, and really brighten my day! I miss ya tons! And hope all is well!!!
Love Always,
Sister Tracy
Mar 11, 2011
March 10, 2011 - Letter
Just for an update on the shooting, the man didn't die. He is still in the hospital but he is doing much better now! They still haven't caught the people who did it, but they know who they are. It's still crazy to think all of that happened. It's all just like a dream now...
This week has been good so far. It was transfers this week. I'm staying in Roswell!!! :) It's weird to think that I'm already in my second transfer. My whole mission consists of 13 transfers. Just so you know each transfer is 6 weeks. So only like 12 more to go! Ha Ha Time really will just fly by. We have been homeless for almost two weeks now. It is exhausting moving from member to members house. We have been living out of our suitcases and out of our cars since the shooting. We stay with a member for about two days then they have us move. Sister Robinson and I have decided that we are going to start rating the members homes and giving out awards. Ha Ha Best Bed, goes to the Jacksons, best Shower Pressure goes to the Prices, Best snack stash goes to the Eckstiens ect.. I have loved being with the members though. They are all just so charitable and ready to help us at a moments notice. We have been looking for a new apartment but havent really had any luck so far. Hopefully we can find something soon, so that we can get back into our regular routine.
This week we re-set the date with Marie Ramos for March 26th. She missed church on Sunday so we had to push it back so she could become more prepared for baptism. We also set a date with a boy names Daniel!! YAY!! He is 20 years old. We have been teaching him and his family. The parents aren't too interested but they are okay with us teaching their children. There is daniel who is 20, Desiree who's 12, and Ruby who is 8. Last night everyone was gone but daniel, so we just taught him. We were teaching about the Plan of Salvation and the different Kingdoms. He asked us if he had to get baptized to make it to the Celestial Kingdom. We just kind of laughed and said Yes. He then through his hands over is head and yelled, "Oh NO! I need to get baptized immediately then!" Ha Ha It's amazing to see how the gospel really can change lives. I feel like it is such a blessing to see these people change right infront of you. You just know that their lives will never be the same and that they will be so blessed because of this new knowledge in their lives.
Last Sunday Sister Robinson and I taught the young women. We talked about how they needed to set goals and figure out who they were. We talked about what we had done to get to where we are now. As I was preparing for this lesson, it made me think of the song, "The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock." We here about how the man on the rock built his home on that sure foundation and so when those tempests came he stood still. But that's just it...He BUILT his house! He didn't just idoly stand on top of the rock watching the sunsets or watching the people below, He actively BUILT his house. I think many times in life we make that tough journey to the top of the rock, but once we are there we become comfortable and then just sit and wait. We wait...thinking that we will be okay when those storms come. That surely isn't the case. We all must actively be building our houses, our testimonies, our faith on that rock. It takes effort to build it, but building is what we must do to survie those whirly tempests. Building isn't something that happens over night. It is a slow process. It is those small little moments that may seem trivial and pointless at the time, that in the end, built us up the most. I pray that all of us can try to do a little more to build up our own testimonies. That when those storms come, that there will be no doubt that we will stand firm. I know that as we do the things we are asked, like reading and praying, going to the temple with faith, that our lives will be blessed. That God will watch over us and carry us through. I love you all so much!
Love,
Sister Tracy
This week has been good so far. It was transfers this week. I'm staying in Roswell!!! :) It's weird to think that I'm already in my second transfer. My whole mission consists of 13 transfers. Just so you know each transfer is 6 weeks. So only like 12 more to go! Ha Ha Time really will just fly by. We have been homeless for almost two weeks now. It is exhausting moving from member to members house. We have been living out of our suitcases and out of our cars since the shooting. We stay with a member for about two days then they have us move. Sister Robinson and I have decided that we are going to start rating the members homes and giving out awards. Ha Ha Best Bed, goes to the Jacksons, best Shower Pressure goes to the Prices, Best snack stash goes to the Eckstiens ect.. I have loved being with the members though. They are all just so charitable and ready to help us at a moments notice. We have been looking for a new apartment but havent really had any luck so far. Hopefully we can find something soon, so that we can get back into our regular routine.
This week we re-set the date with Marie Ramos for March 26th. She missed church on Sunday so we had to push it back so she could become more prepared for baptism. We also set a date with a boy names Daniel!! YAY!! He is 20 years old. We have been teaching him and his family. The parents aren't too interested but they are okay with us teaching their children. There is daniel who is 20, Desiree who's 12, and Ruby who is 8. Last night everyone was gone but daniel, so we just taught him. We were teaching about the Plan of Salvation and the different Kingdoms. He asked us if he had to get baptized to make it to the Celestial Kingdom. We just kind of laughed and said Yes. He then through his hands over is head and yelled, "Oh NO! I need to get baptized immediately then!" Ha Ha It's amazing to see how the gospel really can change lives. I feel like it is such a blessing to see these people change right infront of you. You just know that their lives will never be the same and that they will be so blessed because of this new knowledge in their lives.
Last Sunday Sister Robinson and I taught the young women. We talked about how they needed to set goals and figure out who they were. We talked about what we had done to get to where we are now. As I was preparing for this lesson, it made me think of the song, "The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock." We here about how the man on the rock built his home on that sure foundation and so when those tempests came he stood still. But that's just it...He BUILT his house! He didn't just idoly stand on top of the rock watching the sunsets or watching the people below, He actively BUILT his house. I think many times in life we make that tough journey to the top of the rock, but once we are there we become comfortable and then just sit and wait. We wait...thinking that we will be okay when those storms come. That surely isn't the case. We all must actively be building our houses, our testimonies, our faith on that rock. It takes effort to build it, but building is what we must do to survie those whirly tempests. Building isn't something that happens over night. It is a slow process. It is those small little moments that may seem trivial and pointless at the time, that in the end, built us up the most. I pray that all of us can try to do a little more to build up our own testimonies. That when those storms come, that there will be no doubt that we will stand firm. I know that as we do the things we are asked, like reading and praying, going to the temple with faith, that our lives will be blessed. That God will watch over us and carry us through. I love you all so much!
Love,
Sister Tracy
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