Last Weekly! 6-20-16

Taco night with the Lubins

 Jenkins

 Petroffs

Don't know if I mentioned this last week, but the Pittsburgh Penguins
won the Stranley cup! That's exciting!#PittsburghPride

The fireflies are out!!! Ah I love them SO much!!! They are beautiful!
Sister Nelson and I even went out to catch them, yet another thing I
will miss about PA.

When we were at zone conference I was talking to Sister Johnson
(mission presidents wife) she said by the time missionaries get to the
mission home at the end they are exhausted, well I am definitely
feeling that this week! I'm so exhausted, but at the end of the day it
feels great, knowing I have worked hard.

We had a Relief society activity this week. I love these ladies! It
was super fun, we did a fried shipping activity.

We did a TON of Family history on Tuesday. We did our 2 hours, and
then we went and helped Les get started with his. He was a bit
hesitant at first, but once we got started he really seemed to be
getting into it! That's the Spirit of Elijah for ya!
Later that day we went to our neighbor Lynn's house, she asked what we
had done that day so we told her about all the family history we had
been doing, then she said she wanted help doing her own!
We have been able to go and help Lynn out a lot this week. Sweetest
lady EVER! We have been putting eye drops in her cats eyes for her, we
made her dinner, walked the dog, cleaned a litter box,  love her!

There were some tender moments this week! So I went to say goodbye to
Les, it was sweet, he said I was one of his favorites, but then as we
were walking out he said to his wife "I'm sad.." I almost burst into
tears!

So Olivia finished the Book of Mormon! She also threw a goodbye
fiesta! It was great! At the end she asked if she could sing a song
for me before I leave. She said she though of her favorite attribute
of God- Faithful. So she sang about that! It was amazing, and I was in
tears by the end! I love her!

This may sound a bit prideful, but sometimes it is so nice to feel
appreciated! I never really realized how much the people here in
Wexford really do care and love me and appreciate the love that I have
for them! Many tears have been shed! I am so grateful for modern
technology and the fact that I can keep in contact with these people,
I just want to be able to put mission life, and home life together and
have everyone I love in the same place! I love my family and friends
back home, but the people of Pennsylvania have become family and
friends here!

Well, I guess this is he end, I love you all! Thank you for your love
and support! See you soon!!!

6-13-16

Trip to Pittsburgh on the bus!

 

Touching 3 rivers at one time!

Zone Conference

 

Mission Blog Pics:

 Cranberry District:

Front:  Sisters Nelson, Wayman, Huffaker, Oliver and Johnson

Back:  Elders Mink, Cahoon, Schofield, Tunquist and President Johnson

 Kneeling :  Sisters Oliver and Huffaker 

Standing: Sister Maya, Elder Mink, Sister Beutler, Elder Schofield, Rackham and Hoyt

Starting off the week, last week we went to Pittsburgh for P-day, man
I love this place! We took a bus down and hung out with a lot of our
zone. We went to the strip and to the point, down town Pittsburgh is
awesome!

On Tuesday we spent the day doing service for Brother Ferrari. We
cleaned out his garage/work room. Sister Nelson spent pretty much the
entire time organizing tools, and I did a whole bunch of sweeping and
throwing things away. One thing that I have learned to love is hard
work! I used to hate getting dirty (there were so many cobwebs, and
spiders, and saw dust), or gardening, or lifting big things (that one
mostly just cause I was wimpy hahaha), but I love it, now these are
some of my favorite things! He even taught us how to shoot a bow and
arrow!

On Wednesday we were driving and were about to pass a former
investigator named Jana, she is so sweet, but is never home.. Well we
felt prompted to go try her, and she was actually home!!! we were even
able to share a message with her!

We had a lesson with Olivia this week, I thought it was pretty good,
we were able to understand better what SHE believes so we are more
able to add to those things she already knows, and not Change those
beliefs! She's great, she even signed up to feed us this week fora
farewell fiesta!

As stated last week, this week on my plan I got to do the dating and
temple marriage section! Hahaha oh boy, I better start preparing
myself for the "when are you getting married" questions.. It's so
weird that marriage is the next step (besides school and a career). I
used to think people my age were SOOO old, Haha boy was I wrong, or at
least that's what I want to think... ;) But anyways, I know that it is
all part of our Heavenly Fathers plan, and I know that I want to
follow his plan for me. I know that as I put my faith and trust in him
everything will work out in my life as he wants.

I've gone through A roller coaster of emotions with the end here, I am
first and foremost grateful for the opportunity that I have had to be
a representative of Jesus Christ, for the many people I have met, and
for the many lessons I have learned, I have also felt excitement at
the coming adventures, I have also felt scared out of my mind to jump
back into the real world, nervous, happy, sad, and peace. I know
everything will be ok, but this doesn't even feel real that 18 months
is up!

So the biggest highlight of my week was definitely Zone Conference! It
was definitely one of the best I have ever been to, it was also my
last! The departing testimonies, music, and training were all very
inspiring, he spirit was felt by all!

At zone conference I had the opportunity to give my departing
testimony, all missionaries at their last zone conference will share
their testimony and lessons they have learned on their missions, I
wrote mine down, didn't necessary say it all word for word, but I have
attached that below! Our mission president said this in his weekly
email to us this week, and I have truly seen this in the missionaries
I came out with, as well as In myself.
 "Last week was one of the most memorable of our entire mission.
Sister Johnson and I loved seeing each of you at zone conferences. We
were especially moved by the departing testimonies.  Watching
missionaries grow and change is one of the greatest joys Sister
Johnson and I experience in our callings.  When I listen to departing
testimonies I often reflect on how far each missionary has come from
the day they arrived in the field. All have endured significant trials
and become stronger and better people as they have gone through the
Lord's refiner's fire."

(The remainder is my departing testimony)

So I wrote down a few  so bear with me Because  Consolidating 18
months into less than 5 minutes can be tough, but I am so grateful to
share my testimony, with you today.

So going back In time, I remember when we were driving up to the MTC I
felt a "burning in my bosom", I just felt so much peace after going
from too nervous to even eat, to thinking it wasn't actually even
happening. But at that moment I knew this is where I needed to go, and
I knew that the Lord called me to serve in the Pennsylvania Pittsburgh
mission, and that my life was about to change, and boy has it, more
than I ever expected!

There are so many blessings that come from serving as a full time
representative of Jesus Christ. First and for most, I have had more
happiness than I EVER have had before as I have turned outside of
myself and focused on being in the service of others.
Some blessings I have been able to recognize day by day as the Lord
has blessed me with a tremendous amount of tender mercies, including
having a great lesson, having a great planning session, witnessing
someone enter the waters of baptism, having members feed you delicious
food, getting a letter in the mail,... I have been writing tender
mercies in my journal everyday and this list could go on for a while.
Some I recognize now as I reflect on the past 18 months, such as
gaining a stronger testimony, becoming more confident, developing
lasting friendships, this list could also go on, and I'm sure there
are many I will continue to recognize throughout my lifetime, and even
eternally.

So I guess it's a thing for returning missionaries to say " I never
thought this day would come" or at least for them to say they won't
say it, then say it in some form anyways... Well at the beginning of
this mission 18 months seemed like an eternity away, and I have had
the highest of highs and the lowest of lows and every single emotion
in between, but now I am here, and it's crazy. I guess as the saying
goes, time really does fly when you're having fun. Make the very most
of this experience, you only have 18-24 months to be a set apart, full
time representative of Jesus Christ, always strive to fulfill your
purpose and reach toward your goals, and use every single second you
have, and enjoy it!
I have been SUPER blessed with the companions that I have had, and I
know that we can learn so much from every companion, and every area,
and every situation. I definitely encourage you to Find those lessons
you need to learn in whatever calling, area, or companionship you are
in.
I love the PPM and as cheesy as it sounds, it will always have a place
in my heart.
Thank you to every one of you, for your examples and friendships that
I will treasure forever.
Thank you President and Sister Johnson for your examples, and
especially for your love!

We often hear president Johnson talk about how he wants every single
one of his missionaries to leave with a rock solid testimony, and as I
have reflected upon that thought and on my own testimony I am so
grateful that I have been able to gain that sure knowledge and
understanding that I have,
I know This Church is TRUE,
Joseph Smith truly was and is a prophet called in this last
dispensation to restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I know that we can return to our Heavenly Father who loves us SO much,
and we can live with him and with our families forever!
I know the BOM is true.
There are so many truths of the gospel that I have come to know of
their truthfulness, and I don't have enough time to share them all,
but the most important lesson that I have learned is how much our
Savior Jesus Christ loves each and every one of us, and KNOWS us
personally. I know he lives! I truly know that THROUGH HIM, all things
are possible.