I know I have been called of God...
This past week we had Zone Conference where we receive special training from our leaders and listen to President and Sister Belliston. It was amazing!! During Zone Conference President Belliston told us the story of how he received his mission call to serve last February in 2009. He said he received his call and later had an interview with President Uchtdorf (an apostle of the Lord). He said as his wife and he sat there President Uchtdorf told them that they would be called to an English speaking mission and they would know where in 2 weeks or so. President Uchtdorf then got quiet looked at President Belliston in the eyes, looked down at his paper and back at President Belliston and said "You have been assigned to the Maryland Baltimore Mission." Confused President just looked at him because he had just said they would let them know in two weeks. Nevertheless, President and Sister Belliston accepted their call to serve. Before entering the MTC in the latter part of June President and Sister Belliston did what every couple/person does when they are called to serve a mission. They began to put their ducks in a row. President said he went in to FINALLY get a surgery that doctors had told him he needed a couple of years prior. He said when he went in for a check up he found the situation was worse than he thought... He found out he had Cancer. President made a few phone calls and continued to prepare for his mission. OK now let me pause for anyone who doesn't know President. He is probably the healthiest 63 yr old I have ever met in my life. On P-days when he plays sports with the elders and they are breathing hard and in need of a water break President is just staring at them asking why they need water and then will say something along the lines of "Boy I tell ya they don't make young men like they use to." He has the energy of a two year old. He is, in the words of my mother "as healthy as an ox." But anyway, not to take away from the story. This news shocked President seeing as how he had been healthy his entire life. "I've never been sick a day in my life," President told us. After the shocking news he went to visit some people and all went well. He then came to Maryland on his mission which made it possible for him to get surgery from the best doctor in the states at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He underwent 38 days of radiation treatments every morning last year around this time and didn't tell anyone. He said last week "I didn't tell you all because I didn't want you all thinking I was going to die and get trunky on me." That is my Mission President! As he told these stories I recalled the times in December of last year when he was late to certain appointments or conferences and never thought anything of it because he was a busy man and was always on the go. But we found out last week what the reason was. He was undergoing radiation treatments. He has been cancer free for a year now. I love my mission President. Last February, President Belliston didn't know that he would be diagnosed with Cancer. Nor did he know why he was immediately called to serve in the Maryland Baltimore Mission just seconds after being told that it would take two weeks. But I do know that now he knows the reason for being called here. It was not only to touch the lives of those around him but to undergo a stressful procedure by the best doctor in the US. I testify to you that President Uchtdorf is an apostle of Jesus Christ our Savior. I testify that they receive revelation for us and are literal mouthpieces for our Heavenly Father. I also testify that at times they say things we may not understand but we are to be obedient and at some time in the future when the Lord sees fit He will show us the reason behind it. I know that I too, (just as President Belliston) have been called of God to come to Maryland Baltimore Mission. To touch the lives of others and to have experiences to impact my life just as drastically and vitally. I know this work is of God. There is no other work that has the ability to change hearts and lives the way I have seen it. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored and that just as the church in ancient times we have living prophets and apostles on the earth today. That as we listen to them we will gain a greater peace and happiness in our lives. And this I do testify of in the name of our Beloved Savior Jess Christ. Amen

Happy Thanksgiving

Well folks its that time again... Another Thanksgiving away from my mom's great homecooking. But sometimes you have to sacrifice the good for something better. I never thought I would say that but I know I must put the Lord's work first. My companion and I have been seeing so many miracles I dont even know where to begin. We have been really trying to just talk to everyone. The other day we found this stack of papers from 06 to 09 where people had once upon a tme ordered things online. So my companion and I said well what the Hay why not check on them. It's a shot in the dark but at one point in time they were interested in hearing the message. So Sister Lin and I went to check on one guy and low and behold he didnt live there anymore (it was from 2006) but we met a guy and asked if we could share a message with him. He let us right in. For some reason we always try to share a message but something kept telling me to set a return appt and leave. So we did. On the way out I told Sister Lin how strong the impression was that I got for us to leave. We both thought it was a little wierd but we just followed it. On the way to our car something hit me again and said lets walk to our next appointment. It wasnt to far but we hadnt originally planned to walk but we headed there on foot. So as we were walking we started to cross over this McDonalds parking lot. In doing so we crossed paths with this girl who appeared pregnant (but thats never a question you want to ask unless 100% sure) and she was pushing a heavy kid in a stroller. She looked like she was struggling a bit. We started talking to her and helped her push her stroller almost all the way home. She was phenomenal!!! She is 24 yrs old from El Salvador originally, but grew up her. Her name is Aleyda. As we were talking to her it was sooo evident that she needed the Gospel as everyone does of course. And not only did she need it but she was ready to receive it. We were on our way to an appt so we set up a time to come back that same night after some appointments that we had. When we went back that night she was so excited to see us, as were we. We taught her and then set a time to come back the next day. Needless to say we have taught her everyday since then. We commited her to come to church on saturday and she agreed. after our dinner appt we got an Voicemail from her saying something came upa nd she couldnt make but we could stop by and talk to her about it if we wanted to. When we got there she said she had just put her last diaper on her son and she didnt know how she was going to get more and how she could make it to church. We then asked her two questions "what size diapers does he wear and is that the only thing keeping you from coming to church?" She answered us we didnt say anything else we got up made a trip to walmart got her some diapers and a few other things headed back and she was in tears. Aleyda came to church on Sunday and loved it. Satan was not going to win that battle. She is sooo excited to keep learning and embrace the gospel and it's teaching we are so excited to continue teaching her. I love this work. Miracles like this make it so easy to do. It's worth it. When you see the blessings and the friuts of your labor, it's impossible to not work harder and harder. I love it. So I know my mothers Thanksgiving food will fill me up really well but these memories will fill me up for a lifetime. I will always reflect upon them and they will continue to strenghten my testimony of the truthfullness of this Gospel. I love you all and i love this work... HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

Well people great things are happening in my area. We just had a baptism this week for a beautiful girl name Christina she has been investigating the church for 10 years and we started teaching her and we thank the missionaries that came before us that planted so many seeds. It was wonderful. She is a recovering alcoholic and completely changed because of the Gospel. It's just like Alma 5 when Alma asked "Have you spiritually been born of God? Have you received Him in your countenances?" It is amazing she truly has received God in her countenance. She has changed so much and she was so ready. We love her so much and have thoroughly enjoyed teaching her. We have been seeing so many miracles in this area it's unreal. I can not say enough when you are obedient the Lord will bless you. He is just waiting and wanting to bless us.
On another note I dont know how many football fans we have out there but I wanted to share something else really cool. We have the NFL Player Todd Heap in our ward and my companion and I went to go visit him and his wife. He was out of town playing a game but we got to meet her and she is PHENOMENAL. Talk about people who have not let their lives define them. Sister Heap is so awesome. She is at home a lot with the kids by herself and they still EVERY SINGLE NIGHT have family prayer and scripture reading and they have Family Home Evening every Tuesday. I love them so much. Saturday night we had Trunk or Treat at the church and it was so cool. Todd Heap... but we know him as Brother Heap came too since it was his Byweek. He is sooo awesome. They are so down to earth and still are just a normal family. We asked if we could take a picture with him and he was like of course. He said it almost as if he was like "I'm just a normal person but sure" He is sooo HUMBLE! Man i just love it. I love the example that they are. Pretty much everyone knows they are Mormon and they are just such good people. Well enough of me babbling just know that i love you all and will still be working my face off here in Maryland because... YA know thats what i do! I love you all!!! Here are some pics from the Trunk or treat... Brother Jorgensen was dressed as the Old Spice guy from the commercials.... so funny. The only reasom why i thought it was funny because i actually saw the commercial at wal mart the other day.. And my fried chicken is becoming so big here in MD that i may have to open my own BIS-NESS!!!

Alrighty well here's whats going on. The mission field is stinking sweet. So many miracles happening its unreal. I absolutely love it. My comps are great, I'm great, the work is great. We are pretty much teaching the whole state of Maryland. I mean Mandarin-Chinese, Spanish, English, Samoan... Tell me who we can't teach. Ahhh its so great. So much culture under one roof. We have had some amazing opportunities to share the Gospel and The Lord just keeps blessing us. Obedience is key in the work and you get no where without it. Ahh I love it.
I have been thinking a lot lately. I mean I come home in 5 months or so and around this time ever so often you start to think about what in the world you're going to do when you get home AND... I've finally got it!! (DRUM ROLL PLEASE).
Well here it goes. For all the people who will be traveling outside of the U.S. and into Baltimore I will be teaching Baltimorian as a Second Language. I feel that there is a lot of money in this. I can make all the materials myself and since we're in Baltimore so much I think I will record them so people learning Baltimorian can get a real feel of the language. Some of the Language Program will include vocabulary such as the following:

Me'in- Today I gotta Me'In (meeting) in Baltimore.
Sir'in- I wanna go but I'm not sure if its at a Sir'in (certain) time.
Dairy- Where is he? Dairy (there he) is.
Doug- I was trying to get some sleep but the doug (dog) has been barking all night.
Warsh- Are you gonna to warsh (wash) the dishes.
Dellus- Oh so you a Dellus Cowboys fan?
Dent- I thought she did it but she dent. (didn't)
Troof- I dont lie.. I'm telling you the troof. (truth)

This is just a little bit of Baltimorian for Dummies... Since i have gotten a copyright feel free to use these things when traveling to Baltimore and please people... Dont forget your passport.
Anyway, I love you and hope all is well. Talk to you all soon!

Well hello all...
I have some pretty quick updates for you. So here goes nothing. Umm, I'm absolutely loving my new area. We live with members of the church and they are amazing. Sister Powell is deaf but is what they call an expert in the ability to read lips. She can hear a little with her hearing aids but mostly she just reads your lips. Its so awesome. I find that at times, now, when I'm talking to someone i want them to look at me because im afraid they cant hear me its pretty funny. I also am trying to learn how to read lips better. Its a pretty cool art ot have. She told me her and her sisters have full conversations with no sound just moving their lips. Oh and she talks by the way. I know when i say deaf people think she cant talk either. Well anyhow its just really cool and she doesnt speak sign language at all. Brother Powell her husband is also phenomenal. He is in the Bishopric at the singles ward. We dont cover the singles ward, just the family ward. So those are the members we live with.
Oh so now I am in a a trio. Which means I now have 2 companions that im with 24 hours of the day 7 days a week. This is the only thing I can honestly say that if you are in one youre blessed and if you never are in one you are blessed. It is very very difficult but the experience is amazing nonetheless. The Lord has so many opportunities to show you how to improve. I think i said this last time but if not I'll say it again. My one companion Sister Lin is from Taiwan and my other companion is Sister Baice is from Samoa. If you have been following my blog that name should look familiar. Sister Baice and I served together last transfer and had a great time. Now the Lord has saw fit to give it another shot. It's a blessing when you have the opportunity to get a second shot at a companionship no matter how great it was. And our transfer was great. We are all learning and growing a lot. I appreciate this time the Lord has given me to be better and improve. We are embracing being together, however, it was do to a series of unfortunate events. Sister Baice's companion decided to go home early because the mission is a little difficult. Ok, i understate... the mission is REALLY difficult. I know this work at times can be discouraging but I also know the Savior felt the same way. I always ask myself am I better than He. "[He suffered] temptations and pain of body, hunger thirst and fatigue even more than man can suffer except it be unto death." I know surely I can do this with His help. It is very difficult but I know that I need to be here. I love this work. I hope that you all pray for the missionaries in the field and those that are preparing to serve the Lord that they will be protected, that Satan will not have power over them. It is difficult enough to go out and even more difficult to stay. Pray for those you love. Satan is working double time when he knows you are preparing to armor up and go to battle. Let us always be mindful that he has angels too, and boy would they love to devour us!
I enjoyed General Conference yesterday and Saturday. I know the leaders of the Church are inspired of God. I feel like Elder Holland when he said "no ones mission has meant as much to them as mine did to me." I'm not serving a mission for me. I'm serving for my family back home, for my future husband and children. I'm serving for those who have never heard of "The Gospel of Jesus Christ." Again, I quote Paul "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ." I am so blessed to be a member of His Church to be able to learn and grow. I love The many blessings i receive because of my faithfulness and diligence even though I fall short far too OFTEN of His glory. I love you all and watch General Conference if you havent already.
Go to www.lds.org

Blog Post:
Well, well well I totally forgot to tell you all about other things in my area. So I am serving with a companion who also is a convert she has only been in the church for 5 years and guess what?!?!?! SHE'S FROM TAIWAN!! Oh man it's so sweet. I love it to death. We learn so much from each other. One thing i have learned is that I can not learn Madarin-Chinese. Yeaaa, it's definitely impossible my friends. I am loving this area though. The people are amazing and the ward is soooo diverse. I mean we have Chinese, African, Tawainese, Indonesian, AHHH I LOVE THIS WARD!!!! Everyone is soooo ready to help and do the work it's phenomenal. I wish i could stay here the rest of my mission. Which isn't too much to ask since i only have 5 months left and I have stayed in each area ive served in for 6 months. Understanding that LITERALLY everyone around you is your brother or sister is amazing. There is no option of talking to people you just open your mouth.. is it scary? You bet your bottom it is!!! But oh my goodness do I love it. I just think of what my sister would always tell me when she wanted to ask my mom some outrageous question "well the worst she can say is no." HAHA its the same out here i mean the worse people can tell you is no among some other things but nothing you want ot dwell on. HAHA. President let us all see what date we have scheduled to go home and i almost died i realized i only have 5 Months left and I don't feel like I'm even remotely close to finishing the work the Lord has put me in charge of. But I know at the end of my mission if i serve diligently and faithfully I will receive a confirmation that "the work is done." I will be happy to be amongst family and friends again and be able to continue to be a light to those around me. This work is amazing. Next week i will send more miracles. This week I am pressed for time. But know that I'm happy, this work is true and I love you all!!!

Oh my goodness so many faith promoting stories are you all ready for this. I have had the most action packed week it has been so awesome. I just LOVE this work!
Ok, so I'm going to take you all back to my first day in the field. When I got off the plane at BWI airport I thought you know what I'm going to talk to the first person I see. So i turn to my right and there is this little African lady beside me and I say "Hey how are you." And she smiles very friendly and says "Oh i'm just great how about you?" (in her beautiful Ghanan accent) and I say "well, im great. and you know what I'm a missionary from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We help people strengthen their faith in our Savior Jesus Christ. Have you seen missionaries like us before?" (as I point to all the missionaries I'm with.) She looks at me and politely says "Oh yes, I am a member of the same church." I point to my nametag making sure she understood me and she I said "this church the Church of Jesus Christ...". She goes "oh yes baby, i just got back from General Conference in Utah." So now I'm thinking out of all the people I could've picked I picked someone who already belongs to the Church and somehow missed that we got off the same flight. WOW. Well later on about 10 minutes after she had told me how she was introduced to the church in Ghana and then moved here and joined she told me she was living in the Jones Falls Ward. Her name is Sister Mensah. I told her I would come look for her if I ever served there. Well when I was serving in Susquehanna Ward guess who I met? Sister Mensah's son. He is hilarious!!! I just love them so much. When I met him i said you know about 9 months ago when i came out i met a lady named Sister Mensah from the Jones Falls Ward would you happen to be related to her and he said "OH YEAAA THATS MY MOM!" I was so excited i got to talk to her and we spoke briefly about the day we met. It was awesome. Small world huh.
Well next story this week i was transferred to the Cockeysville Area and it is just awesome. I love every minute of it. Yesterday my first Sunday here, I was sitting in the chapel during Sacrament when all of I sudden I needed to go to the restroom i thought I'll just wait until this is over no big deal. Then something told me "GO NOW" so I say fine. I walk outside and in the foyer was sitting Sister Mensah! We embraced like we were old friends i mean we practically are, right? I am now in the Jones Falls Ward!!! It has been almost a year since i met her at the airport on October 7th. I love her. Our spirits connected.
Ok next story, haha.
My last week in Susquehanna i kinda felt like I was leaving and for some reason I just started praying to receive a media referral. A good solid media referral. I didn't for some reason tell my companion but I wanted one so bad. Just someone to come to us and tell us that they were interested in hearing the message of the Restored Gospel. Well it didn't come. I didn't lose hope but boy did i want that media referral. So the next day i get a phone call from my last companion in the Susquhanna ward saying they received a media referral and not only that but that it was from one of the apostles for his granddaughter!!! How crazy is that! Now which apostle isn't important but i tell you when you pray to our Father in Heaven He's just ready to give i love it. He is so amazing. Now am i saying that because she is the daughter of an apostle her soul is more important. No not at all but I just thought that was really cool. And i love how President Utchdorf said "we can no more measure the worth of a soul anymore than we can measure the span of the universe." I butchered that but you get the point. We are all important. I love this work.
One last story for this week. I'll make it short.
A few months ago i was on exhanges here in Cockeysville with another sister and we were walking through some apartments and we saw two Asian guys walking not together so i ran up to one and my companion the other and began to talk to them. Their english was not that great but I know he felt the spirit just as much as I did. I asked him where he was from, what his name was, if he went to church and so on and so forth. He told me he is from China and has never heard about Jesus Christ. He said "I want my kids to believe, but me i can not believe." Well i was only in the area a day and Mr. Yang and I probably were never going to see each other again so I shared my testimony of how important the Savior is in our lives, gave him a pass along card and invited him to church. This past Sunday right before I got transferred to Jones Falls Ward I saw Mr. Yang and Mrs. Yang. I saw them become Brother and Sister Yang. They were baptized last week and had not missed a Sunday since the week i talked to him on the street. They are doing great and were confirmed yesterday in church.
All i want to say is THIS WORK IS TRUE PEOPLE!!! I see miracles every single say. This is truly the work of angels. We are the Lord's Hands. We love Him and He loves us. It's great. Well i guess thats enough stories. I LOVE YOU ALL and i hope this makes up for all the short stories i write. Sorry for all the typos too I had to write this really fast.

My my my, time is just flying to no end. I don't even understand. Each week gets shorter and shorter where is the time going. I don't even get it. Well so many lessons learned this week. I love this work and I am so blessed to be able to be a part of it. I feel each and everyday the Lord has truly opened my eyes to so many things. We have been teaching a lady named Odilia and it has been amazing. Teaching her the Restored Gospel and how to read all at the same time. It's beautiful! She came to church on Sunday and it was amazing it was as if she had finally come home. I know that that's true. We taught her last Friday and my companion spilled the beans that I may be getting transferred this week and Odilia was quiet for a second and then began to cry. She couldn't understand. She just didn't understand how we can come into her life and then just leave. She was devastated, but we got through it. Our spirits have truly connected. She has told us many things that have lifted us up and made us feel like we are just the best. After her lessons the Lord tends to humble us a lot when we get back into the real world where people don't want to listen, but it is definitely needed. He knows me too well i think. I have learned from Odilia the beauty of obedience. She strives each and everyday to be better to truly understand what it is that Gos wants her to do. I love it. I am indeed getting transferred but its of course about that time since I have been in this ward for 6 months. I figure i have mayyybbeee two areas left on my mission before its time to come home. My companion thinks its awesome to tell me that i only have 1 maybe 2 zone conferences left on my mission. I am sad to be leaving we have learned a lot from each other as you do with all your companions and i really do love her. I will try to update more pics but that doesnt seem to happen to often. Well i want you all to know that i love you and i love the work. I will talk to you all soon and post my new address next week.

Ok this week was quite interesting. We have met some pretty awesome people. We went knocking doors in this neighborhood in our area... also known as "the projects." It was awesome. We met some of the best people ever.
Wait side note, let me say something because I know some people may not understand a mission so i want to lay it out our schedule for you guys. Shouldve been done a long time ago... sorry

6:30 AM Wake up/exercise
7:00 AM Get ready/eat breakfast
8:00 AM Personal Study from the scriptures
9:00 AM Companion study
10:00 OUT THE DOOR... going to appointments with people youve met or go find people to teach. Every minute of everyday is dedicated to the Lord...
Ok so this is basically our schedule.... And somewhere in there you can throw in lunch and dinner. I know a lot of people think that a mission is like a year a half/two year vacation and then in the meantime you teach a few people here and there. Well that would be nice but this is the Lord's work. All your time, talents, efforts etc are focused on finding people to teach and have them try each and everyday to become who God wants them to become. So it's no walk in the park, it's hard and it SUPPPPERRRRR awesome!! I LOVE IT!!! alrighty now that thats out of the way... We found some awesome people that we hope to start teaching this week and have them progress and accept the Restored Gospel in their lives. Oh, i had an awesome birthday yesterday I thank all of you that sent me cards and love you all are great. We ate with a family on the military base and they baked me a cake they are so awesome I love them. More than anything the best gift was the people that we got to teach and introduce to Christ. I don't know if there is anything better. Well i love you all sorry this is so random and scattered... Talk to you soon.

Though our numbers may be few...

Though our numbers may be few...
So I have been thinking about the number of people that tell us there is something different about us. I find it so amazing that people can see and feel the different aura that we bring and how beautiful it is to know that it is definitely not us but the Spirit of the Lord that attends us when we are obedient to His commandments.
The work is coming along great we are continuing to teach people who are keeping commitments and progressing towards baptism. I love when they come to church and say things like "wow i felt the same way at church that I did when you all taught me." How merciful is the Lord to bless us with a portion of His Spirit to abide with us at all times. To be able to testify to those that we teach that this is indeed true, that if accepted it will change the rest of your life. How blessed are we!?!?! I have had the opportunity to teach in Spanish a bit more lately and we will begin teaching a older gentleman whose wife is a member of the church but he is not. He is from Peru. I'm excited about that. He really is awesome. So many miracles that I am able to witness each and everyday. The lord is amazing and infinite. He continues to teach me how to humble myself and become more like Him. Although impossible in this life, I am trying my hardest. I have made a mental list of things i will and will not do when i come home to keep this same Spirit that I have now as a missionary. Boy will it be hard!! But I'm ready. This blog is short but i want you all to know that I'm doing fine. I said i would write more so im trying just be patient.

As I Knelt in Earnest Prayer...

This week has caused me to do a lot of praying, pondering and studying. Which I guess isn't too different from every other day of my life but so much has been going on. Update: I'm still in the same area, Susquehanna and I am really learning more than I can even handle at times. We have had the honor and privilege of teaching so many people from all different walks of life, as always. I have noticed such a popular trend in this area which is the same of course throughout the world. Children truly are their parents. Awhile back we visited a mother and son who havent been to church in a very long time. When we went by her house we tried to commit her to come back to church and in a long drawn out voice she said "I'll tryyyy." We then turned to her son who is 8 yrs old and tried to commit him to come to church as well (if his mother takes him of course) and he said "I'll tryyy," in the exact same voice as his mother. My heart broke. I thought about my mother and how amazing she is and how I'm everything I am because of the time, effort patience and i do mean PATIENCE she had in raising me. As I knelt in earnest prayer I thought "what did I do to deserve such an amazing Mother?" I felt so unworthy and sad for the things I had done to cause her heartache and pain. I also thought about how important parent's roles are in the lives of their children and two famous quotes came to my mind from former presidents of the church. I believe it was David O. McKay who said "No success can compensate for failure in the home." I want you all to know what I know and what I know is very simple. No matter how many college degrees you have, how much money you make, how "high up" of a position you have at work, how many trophies you have it doesn't compensate for quality teaching time that needs to be done in the home. Heavenly Father is very serious about the welfare of His children. If you have had your own children... WHAT A BLESSING!! But guess what they are still His and their spiritual needs need to be met. I believe it was President Spencer W. Kimball who said "the most important work we will ever do will be within the walls of our own home." Our children and families are to know "of the goodness of God." We have the scriptures, we need to use them in our home. The Lord has commanded us to read the scriptures DAILY as a family, pray DAILY as a family. It's not a suggestion it's a commandment. When we do these things we have been given apostolic and prophetic promises that any wayward children will return. They will be able to remember the Spirit that testified to them of the truthfulness of the things they learned as a child. Be patient if it doesn't seem to happen on your time. The Lord's timing is different from yours. Going back to the night I thought about these things I felt so overwhelmed, overpowered and inadequate, but I knew the Lord was there. So as I knelt in earnest prayer, and asked the Lord what I did to deserve such an amazing parents and the answer was quite clear... Nothing it was just one of His many tender mercies. I want you all to know I love this work. I love my family and more importantly i love my Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ. This is their work. I know it because the Lord continues to show to me that its true and that He lives. I know I am blessed to share this message with everyone I meet. I come back to one of my favorite scriptures from the Book of Mormon, 3Nephi 5:13
"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people that they might have everlasting life."
Brothers and Sisters, I testify to you of the divine role that you have as parents, soon to be parents, one day parents and as children of a Heavenly Father period. I know we are to teach those who don't know the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ how they can be happy and receive all the blessings that God wants them to have from it. I LOVE YOU ALL.... UNTIL NEXT TIME... JUST CONTINUE TO BE AWESOME!!!

"NICE TAN!"

This week we we're eating lunch with a very active and amazing family and the wife was telling us about her day. We'll call her Sis. Jones.. she said all day she had been preparing to get the kids to the pool so they could have fun but she also was prepping to get dinner started so when they came back she could throw it in and feed the family and missionaries. She was talking about how she loved seeing the excited look on the kids faces and how they waited and played together in the meantime because they knew they would be going to pool. Finally, she got them ready and headed to the pool. She said when she got to the pool she saw another member of the church there. Unfortunately, this member has not been to church in awhile and this conversation was a real eye opener for me. She was laid out by the pool and she had a beautiful tan. Sister Jones told her "wow, nice tan!" And the lady replied "thanks this is my favorite thing to do." Sister Jones said when she saw her tan she immediately was somewhat envious of how beautiful this woman's skin looked and how she, on the other hand had rushed all day to get ready, and her skin looked like she hadn't seen the sun in years and so on and so on. Then she said wait a minute, my favorite thing to do is spend time with my family which I have done. My favorite thing is serving, making sure the kids and my husband are taken care of. How quick was I to forget that.

Guys, I know this story can seem a little judgemental and I hope that's not how I come off. In life we all mix up our priorities at times and if we didnt we would be perfect. But i want to ask How much time are we spending doing things "we love to do" as oppose to things we SHOULD be doing? What things are most important to us? What spiritual things are we sacrificing for our "beautiful tans?" Do our children, spouses, friends, others around and even more importantly our Father in Heaven know whats most important to us? I think it was Shakespeare who said "they do not love who do not show their love." If we love the Lord let us show him. Let us always seek first the kingdom of God. We can quickly forget because maybe other things seem to have such a beautiful tan when our skin looks like Elmer glue (I'll never have this problem)! I want to learn and grow and do all the things i possibly can in this life. Its so limited. Brothers and Sisters please make sure that we can stand blameless before God. Remember that the things we do effect others around us not just us. Especially when we have children. Their sins will come upon our heads if they are not taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we had it our entire lives. Self evaluate, read Alma 5 can we answer the questions Alma ask the people in Zarahemla with confidence and surety? I love you all. Sorry so long i hope to continue to update and let you know whats going on throughout the weeks. I love love love you!!!!

Well, people the mission field is just great. We are working our behinds off and i love each and every minute of it its just great. We have been taking the good with the bad but its ok. So the visitor center here is doing this amazing display of Christ's Mortal ministry and healings and such so we are excited to take some people to that. They said its suppose to be the biggest thing of the year. Which is a pretty big shocker for me because i thought the half a million Christmas lights was awesome. But we'll see i hope you all have the new pictures i sent and im hoping to send more after we go to the VC. Maryland is hot as Camel hooves by the way. It was 105 degrees yesterday and genius me locked the keys in the trunk... We were sooo stinking miserable. I want everyone to know that you all would be really proud of me... Sista Norris has been knocking doors in 100 degree weather each and everyday. WHATS UP!!! IT'S SO HUMID... I CANT BREATHE!! But man this is what i signed up for right. These people are far more important than me being able to breathe. pshhh who needs breath when you have the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ people. I mean lets get real! Well I love you all and miss you by the way today is July 7th, 2010. Does anyone know what day this is... My 2 yr mark of being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints... whoot whoot!!! Ahhh thats just stinking sweet. Have a good week folks

Hello people. I know I'm the worst at keeping contact on here. I may just have my mom discontinue this. But I want to let you all know that the work is going AMAZING. We have quite a few people that we are teaching and many of them are keeping comittments, coming to church and changing their lives and truly understanding what their Father in Heaven would have them do. I love watching their faces when you tell them "listen, you are the daughter/son of God, a Heavenly Father who loves you sooo much and wants what's best for you. He wants you to be happy." Boy does that really astonish some people. They know it or maybe have heard it but then they truly begin to feel it and understand what that means everything changes. They stop smoking, drinking, having premarital sex, cursing, skipping church, neglecting the commandments etc and just trying to live the way God would have them live. HOW AMAZING IS THIS WORK PEOPLE!!!! You have not lived until you see the Lord's hand in His work. The power and dominion that He has ONCE people say "ok I believe everything you said what do I need to do. Just like when Aaron was teaching King Lamoni's Father of Christ in the Book of Mormon. King Lamoni says "What shall I do that I may have his eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, say he, I will forsake my kingdom, that i may receive this great joy." (Alma 22:15) This is what we want to hear as missionaries just like Ammon and Aaron and Alma in the Book of Mormon. We want the world to know there is better and they can have a better life. They dont have to settle for what the world has told them is "happiness" just like Alma told his son Corianton "wickedness never was happiness." Helping people understand that happiness is eternal is quite a challenge but when they grasp it they hit the ground running and I love it. One more scripture then I'm done with the overload. When the four sons of Mosiah had changed their lives and began preaching the word of God to the wicked Lamanites in Mosiah 28:2-4 this is how i feel each and every day im here in Maryland. "That perhaps they might bring them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and convince them of the iniquity of their fathers... that they might rejoice in the Lord their God, they they might become friendly to one another and there should no more contentions in all the land which the Lord their God had given them.
Now they (the four sons of Mosiah) were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human should should perish; yea even the very thoughts that any should should endure endless torment did them to quake and tremble.
And thus did the Spirit of the Lord work upon the for they (the four sons of Mosiah) were the very vilest of sinners. And the Lord saw fit in his infinite mercy to spare them;" Boy was I, and am I still like the 4 sons of Mosiah. God was so merciful to help me change and now i have the opportunity to invite others to come unto Him. To help the see the ways of truth so they wont have any contentions one with another. So they can see the traditions of their fathers CAN stop with them. I love it I know this is the truth! I love every second i get to testify of it. Sorry so long I guess im just making up for the ones I didn't write you all.

Oh man, so today was the official "De-Junk Day." All the missionaries in the Maryland Baltimore Mission were advised that we needed to clean our Apts from top to bottom. Oh, did I spend the majority of the day murmuring and complaining. I felt like Laman and Lamuel. I was like ughhh we just dont have enough time we only have one day to do all that we need to do and now were just spending it on cleaning... blah blah blah. My companion is just great she really keeps me in line. She just stayed positive partially bc she loves to clean. It's not that i hate cleaning but when there are things that need to be done the last thing i wanna do is clean. Anyways to make a long story short i sucked it up and cleaned my apt and what do you know the Lord provided a way for me to accomplish all the things I NEEDED to do, but not WANTED to do. He continues to show me that this is His work and His glory and what He says goes. I just have to learn that. On the other hand the work is going great we have a nice size teaching pool and people are just working hard to change their lives and so are we in the process. We can't call people to repentance if we're not right. Each and everyday we try to be better than the day before working harder and harder. I for sure feel like Daniel (im sorry Elder Naseath now) the harder you work the more tired you become. I'll say it every update. The work is tough but extremely awesome! I love it!

Oh my... where do I begin with the mission work. Let me start by just throwing out some random things.
1. Im loving the work as you all know. It's fun, tough, sad, joyful, challenging, but nonetheless no one ever said it would be easy.
2. I'm serving in a ward where there are two sets of missionaries because the boundaries are so huge. I'm not going to lie its been a challenge for me, maybe bc I'm territorial but I feel like every time i greet a member at church theyre like "Oh no, we're in the elders area." I'm about ready to kick the elders into another ward. Lol jk its not that bad but the division is kinda rough. You want to get in the homes of all the members but instead only half of them are yours... hmmm. Anyways
3. The weather here is awesome right now. Perfect for walking everywhere and greeting people like my comp and i have been doing. Its awesome. The trees the flowers everything is beautiful... I love it. There are a million kids playing outside all the time so i feel like im back on my street at home. Really cute. I love all the kids in the neighborhood and they love us. We talk to them all the time and have gotten to know them really well. They are all awesome!!!
4. My hair finally growing back from my AWWfullll haircut... So its looking nice again. Plan on going to the salon sometime soon.

I thank everyone for your prayers and support. And just to let you know I'm aware that my blog gets boring so if you all have any special request as to some things you'd like to know I'm up for that. Otherwise, its just good ol uplifting stuff, and you can only get so much of that... lol jk jk. Let me know people i love you all

Hello Hello Hello... from the great state of Md!!! Oh my this week has been fun. We have met a ton of interesting people and for some reason people are letting us in left and right. This area has truly been prepared by the angels of the Lord to receive this Restored Gospel. However, anyone who is familiar with missionary work knows this happens then the Lord needs to keep you humble and you'll go awhile with no one even giving you the time a day. But it's OK you always plan for the best and prepare for the worst. I have been having fun. My companion and i are teaching really well together and its amazing to learn and grow from one another. I dyed eggs for the first time in my life. I don't recall ever doing that. I have also done some other rare things like eat dry worms.. apparently they are a delicacy in Thailand or Taiwan or something and are suppose to taste like chips... Well that's absolutely false. I have also eaten a live worm. I dared an elder to do it and that i would give him 5 bucks (i didn't think he would do it), so when he did it i realized crap I'm a poor missionary and don't have 5 bucks so i had to eat one too. It wasn't that bad actually. Except for when i felt it crawling in my throat... HA HA I'm just kidding calm down people. But i did eat it. Anyways what else is going on. The mission is awesome i enjoyed general conference so much thats another story entirely and i will be here for days just thinking of all the things i liked. I love listening to the prophets and apostles speak. Its amazing for us to know that God loves us so much He gives us our own Noah or Moses to guide us and direct us. I love you all and i hope that if you did not get a chance to see General Conference that you will go to www.lds.org in order to view it. Well until next time i love you all and cant wait to see you all in a yr. lol

I've relocated

Well People,
Its about time I wrote you all, huh? Sorry but there has been so much going on that at times it is difficult to write you all and tell you what's going on. Ok so I have been transferred for the first time. I am now in Susquehanna ward and serving in the Baltimore Stake. Unfortunately, I think this is somewhat the closest I'll ever get to serving in/by/near Baltimore. My companion is Sis. Garbett. She is a Temple Square Sister and will only be here for one more transfer after this. I miss my last companion Sis. Faamoe but that's how the mission goes. You love em them leave em. It's sad but hey at least you have lifetime friends. I went to church yesterday and the ward seems pretty friendly. It's a lot more populated that my last area so im able to do a lot of street contact and we knocked our apts last week. Everyone was really nice, let's be honest you dont get that too much. It was really difficult last week when i was leaving my area because i had been in that ward for 6 months and when the members found out i was leaving they didnt help by calling and telling me all these really nice things. They were sad i was sad we were ALL sad.. lol. I took it kinda hard i guess. Your heart just grows so much for all the people then youre told you have to leave and start all over with a new area. It's tough but every part is worth it. Although none of you really faithful friends have sent me a letter in a while i guess i'll still post my address in case someone decides to be nice... LOL. I officially realized that i've been out awhile when no one remembers me. I would put LOL but im crying inside... lol JKJK. Anyways I love you all. And I'll be sure to keep you all posted and i promise next week ill add more pics. So dont worry

New Addy:
Sister Phylicia Norris
317 Stevens Cir apt 2d
Aberdeen, MD 21001

I'm Back!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello EVERYONE!!! I know you guys thought I forgot about you and well maybe I did... Lol no i'm kiddin i'm kiddin. I miss you all and I've been so busy that i literally spend no time writing people on Monday I just hang out and try to do as much as nothing as I possibly can. Sounds crazy but you have no idea. By the time Monday hits I just want to sleep but instead we go play soccer of volleyball or something else and then do lunch and somehow by the time we do that P-day is over and were ready to go teach. So these past two weeks or so have been pretty tough. I didnt receive a letter or anything for about 2 weeks and that was really hard. I guess my greenie phase is over. I'm at the part of my mission where I get no love and everyone just forgets about you. LOL! It seems as if the world is getting smaller and smaller by the way every week or so i get an email or something saying they know someone who's serving in my mission. From Ozzie in Brasil to Susan in Washington to Bishop Seegmiller in Tennessee. I have come to realize that is a REALLY REALLY small world. I want everyone to know that the work is progressing and we should be having another baptism at the end of the month. I have been in the area since i got here so i dont know if i will make it another transfer without being transferred somewhere else unfortunately. I just love the people here and that would be so hard for me but i know its coming so i might as well "man up" and deal with it. On the other hand i love you all and will write again sometime. Hope everyone is doing well!!!

BURRRRHHHHH FROM THE STATE OF MARYLAND !!!! Its been so cold here its unreal. We have had over 3 ft of snow since last fri and We have been grounded inside the house since basically last fri and now its Wednesday... UGHHH its horrible, the worst thing you can do as a missionary is nothing. You begin to go insane, An hour or two of down town is fine but after that you're just driving yourself nuts. So my companion and i have been reading the scriptures all day long you know kinda like we do everyday but this time from cover to cover in the Book of Mormon. We are having a load of fun actually learning from one another and understanding what we're reading its pretty awesome. We have had the amazing opportunity to help our neighbors shovel their intensely long driveways and talking to them has been fun, introducing ourselves and tell them that we actually LIKE to shovel yards... Its so funny seeing the looks on their faces they think we are absolutely crazy! And we probably are. but oh well its awesome!! Service is amazing!! I woke up the other day and i was sooo sore from shoveling it was unreal. I thought about Alma in the Book of Mormon when he was talking about his sins and he said "and oh what marvelous light i did behold; yea and my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain... there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy" thats exactly how i felt. i was in soo much pain but at the same time my joy exceeded everything that i was feeling knowing that i had helped someone. it was great. By the way i would like everyone to know i have missed more days of church on my mission than i have when i was back home. (I didnt miss any back home by the way). But since i have been here church has been cancelled about 5 or 6 times because of the weather. These Marylanders are trying to tell me that this doesnt happen every winter but i'll believe it the next winter when im here if it doesnt happen again. Ok well i dont want to make this long i havent been able to really teach to tell you all some good stuff but i miss you all and love you greatly. oh and a little ps our recently baptized convert is still not a member of the Church because she has not been confirmed since church has been cancelled ever since... Boy what an adventure i tell you. "FIND JOY IN THE JOURNEY NOW PEOPLE"- President Thomas S. Monson

WELL WELL WELL people where do i begin... Training is kicking my behind!! I must say the minute I think I have it together the Lord tells me that i don't. SO it's been quite the experience! I love it though. I have done a lot of learning and laughing i can tell you that. My companion, Sister Faamoe, is just AWESOME!!! I LOVE THIS GIRL!!!! We tell the funniest stories at night about all of our friends and family man i can not wait for you all to meet this girl. She will for sure come visit when I'm home and she gets off her mission!! I love her just as much as i did my first companion SIster KIteau... equally but differently!! I have been truly learning more about God's Plan for us and how he really wants to return to HIm. I have also been learning to follow the promptings of the Spirit. Its just great. It really is essential in this work. God is without a doubt keeping me grounded and showing me how much he wants me to grow by giving 2million and 1 trials and stumbling blocks, just so i can feel a portion of what our Savior did. To let everyone im still in the same area and we have a baptsm set up for this weekend. WE have been teaching an amazing girl named Catrina and we love her so much she is overcoming some obstacles and we have walked with her every step of the way, and she knows it. Which is the best part!!! SHe trust us and it feels amazing. This will be the first baptism this ward has had in almost two years. I'm estatic and hope and pray that everything goes through! I love her sooo much and she is truly becoming more and more converted each and everyday to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ!! AHHH i cant say enough how much i love her. I will keep you all posted. She has an amazingly strong testimony and its great. I dont have much to say this time but i love you all and will talk to you all soon!!! HAHA SOON??? that was funny anyways love you all

Ohhh my goodness friends and family where do i begin!! So this is my third transfer in the field and guess what??? I'M TRAINING!!! What in the world is Heavenly Father thinking putting me in the position. I don't think i have ever questioned Him before but this has got to be some kind of mistake. I have no idea what I'm doing and I'm suppose to teach someone else?? What is going on?? lol Ok so maybe it's not that bad but guys here's the truth this is a really challenging calling. I was so scared, president called me the day of transfers at 7:30 in the morning and told me "the Lord put it in his heart to call me as a trainer." I couldn't believe it. I was soo nervous, taking over my area and i don't know much. Everything took me back to my farewell talk when I quoted Harold B. Lee "Whom God calls He qualifies." I want to be honest I have never been more scared in my life. I felt (and still feel) so inadequate, incompetent, small, unprepared etc when he called me to be a trainer. This is the Lord's work i didn't want anything to stop the progression of it. Then I read my Patriarchal Blessing and it says "You will be able to lead in leadership roles. You will be able to teach these brothers and sisters that you will be called to work with the things they need to know." Way to wake me up, huh. I have truly learned a valuable lesson in this past week and that is to "trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Guys, I want to semi-quote Bishop Seegmiller here for a minute and let you all know that i did NOT get called to be a trainer because I'm some GREAT missionary, but because I probably need the most work to improve myself. I took my trainer for granted a lot and I can see that now. She taught me a lot she truly was/is great!! Now I'm on my own teaching someone straight from the MTC, the same place i was 3 months ago. I pray so hard that I will teach her what she needs to know so she too can love the people and teach them by the Spirit of the Lord that is going to guide and direct her path. I want you all to know that I love this work and although this is now the toughest time I've had so far I would change it for the world. I have become a strong believer of sacrifice brings forth blessings. I have yet to have a baptism but my success isn't measured in that. What's amazing is how converted I'm becoming from all the experiences that I have. Don't get me wrong I didn't come on a mission to serve myself but anyone who has served knows you go out to serve the people but you learn a lot more than you probably will ever teach them. WE'LL YOU'S GUYS (I mean i am in MD) Until next time, I LOVE YOU ALL. DON'T FORGET TO WRITE ME!!!!!!!!