Well my fellow friends and family! I want everyone to know that I love my mission and hate the weather!! However, with all the snow we have been getting we have had some awesome opportunities to shovel. Last week my companion and I decided to borrow some shovels from some members and drive around and find some people to help shovel and clear some driveways or parking spots etc etc. We had some cool experiences and everyone we helped just loved it and so did we. However, I think my greatest joy came when we saw this young girl and a lady that seemed like it could be her mom shoveling snow. My comp and I ran up and began helping them. The girl Sophia is in 8th grade and the other lady Antoinette was her aunt whom Sophia had been living with since she was 2 days old. We talked and shoveled, laughed and shoveled and had a really good time chatting and telling them who we are and what we do. When we were done we got their information so we could come back to share a message with them. We started walking to our car and we heard someone say "Hey, wait!!" When we turned around it was Sophia asking if we were going to shovel more people and that she wanted to come. We were so happy she started walking with us and we walked around the entire complex trying to find some people to shovel out. Keep in mind we probably looked crazy because it was snowing even more as we were looking for people to help shovel out. As we walked with Sophia she told us her life story and told us the things she had gone through as a child. She has gone through a lot more as a 13 yr old than most people have their entire lives. Sophia was just a neat girl. We are excited to meet with her sometime this week. We spent about an hour just walking and shoveling. It was great. When we finished we went home to change and headed to the Washington Dc visitor center with Phuong and two members of the church. It was just amazing. We asked her how her reading in the Book of Mormon went and she said that it was very difficult to read because of the language. Then (take note, this is why i love Visitor Center Sister Missionaries) the Sister who was giving us a tour went and got a copy of the Book of Mormon in Vietnamese. It was the coolest thing watching Phuong's face light up. She said she felt like God knew her personally and was so excited that he speaks her language. We read 2Nephi31:3 with her about how the Lord speaks to us according to our own understanding and in our own language. It was just awesome. We then watched the Joseph Smith movie and the Spirit just filled the room even more. When we were done we went out in to foyer and if you have not seen the LDS Washington DC Temple i suggest you google it because this is the sight that we were looking at. As we stared at the temple and taught her a little about it Phuong turned and said "you know... a year ago I would have never thought I would have this opportunity. Now I'm learning and growing so much." It was sooo amazing to hear her say that. That's exactly how I felt when I met Daniel. I was learning and growing so much that it was almost impossible to even believe it. The gospel is just great. So this Sunday at church was just awesome and crazy. Aleyda and Phuong were at church and as we were sitting there Aleyda got up to go to the restroom came back, sat down beside me and said... "umm my water just broke." Put that on your top ten things not to tell a missionary. WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS I SUPPOSE TO DO!?!!? They did NOT train us for that at the MTC. I was like "uhh, uhhh let me go get someone." As I'm pacing back in forth in the hallway I finally come to my senses and realize "what in the world you are in the ward where EVERYONE goes to Johns Hopkins!!" So we go find a sister in the ward who is an OB/GYN. And she is pre-coaching Aleyda through, asking her how she feels and if she's having any contractions. She then said she wasn't hurting but just felt scared. Well to make a long story short we have one of the sisters in the ward who just loves Aleyda to death take her to the hospital. Now for the best part the sister who took her has 3 boys and the middle one when he found out they had to leave early thought he was being punished and started crying and saying "but mama i don't wanna go home, I'm sorry. I don't. i don't wanna go home. please I wanna stay" It was soo sad but funny and awesome that it was a "punishment for this little kid to be taken from church." Oh man this was soo good. I can't make this stuff up. So all this happened in the first 2 hours of church. As I go back in finally getting my head clear My comp and I walk into joint meeting Priesthood and Relief Society and the lesson was over missionary work. Our Ward Mission Leader, Bro. Cheung, is doing a phenomenal job and asks us and the Elders to get up and share some interesting things about ourselves. When we all sit down I finally calm down from all the stress of the morning and Bro. Cheung is talking to the members about feeding the missionaries and says "And everyone, if you have not had the pleasure to have Sister Norris in your home you better do it soon because she leaves next month!"
I near about lost it!!! You can put that in the top 10 things never to announce in meetings. I almost feel out of chair. I was thinking "You know, no one may be able to eat with us because I'm gonna get sent home early for killing my Ward Mission Leader." It was probably the funniest thing ever. However, I wanted to die. I jokingly told Bro. Cheung after the meeting that I was going to kill him. He kept the secret from me about my family moving and couldnt hold water when it came to me finishing my mission next month. Gotta love Bro. Cheung, eh? Well, all joking aside Bro. Cheung is just one of the greatest men I have had the opportunity to meet and work with on my mission. I love him and well... I love this work. Its great. I am excited to keep seeing miracles and helping the Lord.

Ps. Aleyda went to the hospital and it was defintely false alarm so we are still anxiously awaiting little Noah Josiah any day now.

Hey friends and family I didn't have much time to write so i copied my president letter and sent it off. Enjoy people. love you all!!!

PRESIDENT PRESIDENT PRESIDENT!!!

Oh my goodness I am with you... what is this trunky business!?!?! This work is awesome. This week we had a SLAMMING WEEK!! So I must back up. Normally I don't share these experiences because they are really really close to me but I got the urge to share this. It is quite interesting actually. The day we met Phuong (pronounced Fu) I just immediately felt connected with her. When I opened the door something told me "you know her, and you know her well." When she came in she told me she was a BYU applicant and I asked her her name. She look at me and said Phuong. Well as we were walking across the chapel the feeling and words came to mind again "Sister Norris you know her... this is your friend." When we went to the room to get my planner to write her name and info down I said "you said Phuong right?" and she said "yes" Then I looked at her and said "and you said your last name is Nguyen, right?" And she looked at me for a second with the look of astonishment and said "I never said my last name, but yeaaa, that is it." We didn't make too much conversation about it at all but President I tell you I KNOW HER. I've never met her in this life. I know that. But I know her and I love her. When she came to church we didn't get a chance to talk to her about it so we called her on Tuesday and asked her how everything went and she said she love it. We couldn't even get the words out before she self committed to come to church. She is just awesome. We set up an appointment to meet with her on Fri and took our recent convert Christina. When we got there Phuong had made food for us and we introduced her to the Book of Mormon and she was just sooo ready. She loved every minute. Since she wants to go to BYU she knows the standards and is ready to live them all. We committed her to baptism and she accepted. TELL ME THIS WORK ISN'T TRUE!!!! She said when she came to church she loved the way everyone called her sister. And she offered the closing prayer. SHE IS MORE THAN GOLDEN!!!! So we were excited. This Sunday we went to church and unfortunately did not see her. We were so worried because she did not answer our texts we sent her. When we got out of church we called her and she sounded horrible on the phone. She said she woke up for church and felt horrible. So she went back to sleep. She said "but you all still coming Tues right?" She was still excited. I know that she really was sick and that she really will keep these commitments. I have a set my own personal goalsand will accomplish them even if it kills me. I know these people are ready. What non-LDS person in their right mind would LOVE the standards of BYU unless they were ready to be members. COME ON. President, I love his work. Tell people to knock off their trunkiness... In your very own words..."THAT'S MICKEY MOUSE BUSINESS!!" Tell these missionaries to Grow up, work hard and STOP looking at the thermometer<<
President, I love you and I love this work.

Alright i know everyone defintely hates me right now and I am indeed sorry for not updating. I seriously been so busy that my emails to everyone have been really small. So lets get down to business shall we. This week was PHENOMENAL!!! Well wait let me back up a moment. Last week starting with Monday we got Move calls and were told that my companion Sister Lin would be transferred. So it started off pretty sad. We have learned sooo much from each other and spent a long time together, longer than any of my other companions. 18 weeks we were together. But the truth is we needed that long. Neither one of us were happy with the first transfer and hoped to stay together for another to really be the companions that God wanted us to be. The second and third transfer were great. We grew a lot. It just reminded me of the scripture in the Book of Mormon Helaman 3:35 which says "Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the santification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God." This work is the Lords work. We must all understand that. We grew sooo much. Anyway, after we found that out we just worked our faces off the last two days she had in the area. When I got to transfers I found out I was getting Sister Waldron. She came out after me and actually trained Sister Lin. Our week together has been great. So for planning on Thursday we decided "you know what lets text everyone in our phone that we don't know and see who they are." For those of you who are unfamiliar with missionary work or who served when they did not have cell phones (which was NOT forever ago) then I will explain why this is necessary. Every area that you serve in has a cell phone. This cell phone is normally full of numbers from people who were taught or met by the missionaries who served there previously. So when you get to that area its quite common that you a have phone with about 300 or 400 contacts and only 25% or so are people you know or that are in the ward. So this weekly planning session I went through and texted every person I did not know (since my comp had only been there 1 day she didnt know any of them). We had a ton of success. We were able to delete some people that moved and even schedule some appointments. We knew it would be a shot in the dark but we did it and the results were awesome. We even had one guy text us back who was being taught by the missionaries before and say yea I'm free this evening I get off work in a few hours how about then? Man, it was great. We agreed and set up a time to meet him at the chapel. When we got there something told me "give him a building tour!!" I was like what we havent even invited him come to church or taught him anything but i followed it and decided ok lets do a building tour. My comp was just as confused as I was. When we began the building tour, I for some reason wasnt really taking my time and kinda rushed through didnt really show all the classes and I'm just thinking to myself "SLOW DOWN... YOU ARE GOING 90 TO NOTHING RIGHT NOW" But something wouldnt allow me to slow down. Finally we get to the other side of the building and as were giving the tour i look out the door and there is a little Asian girl walking from the building door to get in her car. When she turned around i waved and she was kind of hesitant because she didnt know what to do so she waved back and I just kinda motioned her to come back. My comp at this time is still giving the tour and I go out to talk to this girl at the door and she says "oh im sooo sorry to come so late but I am a BYU applicant and I needed an interview with the Bishop here. I asked if she was a member of the Church and she said no. She was the sweetest girl ever. She said she just randomly googled good schools in the US and BYU came up and now she's adamant about going. So i took down her information and told her that she should probably just come to church on Sunday because Bishop is pretty busy but that I was surrrrre he would be probably be able to get to her interview some time within the 3 hour block. She was so excited and so was I. When we were through I went back to my comp and finished the building tour and then began to teach him about the Book of Mormon. It was an awesome lesson. On sunday we saw her at church and she loved it. We will be calling her today to see if we can get teach her. I just love her. I sat with her the whole time and she just listened and really appreciated all the talks given and the sunday school class. Well, people to be honest i have heard the word trunky and i just dont understand it. How could you ever be trunky doing this work it is amazing. I love it so much. I will try to post a story every week until I come home. I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

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!!!!