June 6, 2016

This is so weird. I can't believe this is my last full week as a missionary! I feel like I was just at the MTC a month or two ago! This was the shortest longest thing of my life. Or the longest shortest. 

So, I left my planner and my journal at home today. So I have no idea what happened this week but I'll see if I can remember anything.

We had our LAST district meeting on Wednesday! If you'll notice from the picture, I'm in a sistrict. (Sistrict = a district full of all sisters except the district leader and his companion.) So Tuesday evening we got a call from the district leader asking us to give a training on Wednesday. We weren't too fond of the idea, but the topic was diligence and we learned SO MUCH. 

So listen: we were trying to figure out the difference between diligent and hardworking, so we looked up hardworking, which led us to industrious, which led us to busy, which led us to busywork, which said something along the lines of "Being occupied but not necessarily being productive," which blew our minds. So basically the difference between working hard and being diligent is the difference between sacrifice and consecration. Sacrifice is giving something up, but consecration is giving something to the Lord. It was just awesome to study. I would recommend it.

Well, that's really all I remember. Here are some random tidbits from the week: 

- Fireflies have started to come out! 

- We weren't at the trail center for 3 days straight and it was really sad.

- The trail center is ridiculously busy now that it's summer. I never get to sit down anymore.

- Sister Munger came to the trail center on Saturday with 2 of my favorite members from Lincoln and I didn't know they would be there but it made my life.

- I'm going to cry if there are no tornadoes in Omaha in the next 10 days. So that's something to keep in your prayers. Hahaha just kidding. (Kind of...)

- Our investigator James came to church yesterday for 2 hours!!! I love when that happens.

- A group of BYU-Idaho students came to the trail center yesterday and it was really weird to give them a tour. 

- One of the senior couples in the trail center gave me a packet of their favorite quotes! How did they know that's the best gift ever? (Fun fact: the senior couple actually came out at the same time as me and they were in my first district when I was in York! I'm so glad I get to serve with them again.)

This is what happens when you accidentally leave your camera at the front desk.

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Quote of the Week (from my new packet of quotes):​ 

"Faith can move mountains but don't be surprised when God hands you a shovel."

Bonus quote!

"When you find people who not only tolerate your quirks but celebrate them with cries of 'me too!' be sure to cherish them. Because those weirdos are your tribe."

​~Sister Temp

May 30, 2016

This week was so busy! We had zone conference on Tuesday and afterwards we had zone olympics!! I was so excited to try again since I didn't win anything last year. I tried for pushups (and failed) and for arm curls (and failed) and for stick pull and I actually won the stick pull! I finally got an official NOMlympics medal!

This is me and Sister Pinhey after zone olympics with our medals! She's awesome. Everyone says we look like twins.

On Saturday we got to take a field trip to a bunch of different historic sites in the area! We talk about these places all the time when we give tours, so they thought it would be good for us to go and learn a bit more about them and actually experience it. We went to some different spots on the Mormon trail, and Mosquito Creek (accurately named. I've never seen a bigger swarm of mosquitoes in my life.) and Hyde Park and other places like that.

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Working at the trail center has been crazy busy this week because school just got out, so you basically never sit down for your entire 6 hour shift. But it's fun! I've given a bunch of solo tours and I feel like I really mostly know what I'm talking about now, so that's good. I'm working on making a time line because all the different dates kill me.

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On Monday we had a huge storm, but Sister Borla is crazy and called it perfect exercise weather so we went out and ran in the rain.​

Quote of the Week! (It's a pioneer quote too!)
"We came through with the absolute knowledge that God lives for we became acquainted with him in our extremities. I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I said, I can go only that far and there I must give up for I cannot pull my load through it. I have gone on to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me. I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there. Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No. Neither then nor one moment of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay and I am thankful that I was privileged to come to Zion in the Martin Handcart Company” ~Francis Webster

~Sister Temp

May 23, 2016

Sorry I'm terrible at taking pictures lately. Working at the trail center is crazy. You have almost no time for anything, you're always running around everywhere. It reminds me of being in the MTC. We've spent 4 of the 7 nights this past week at other sisters' apartments because we live about 20 minutes from the trail center so it's easier to stay with closer sisters so we can get there faster.

I gave a solo tour for the first time this week! It wasn't even that bad! The trail center gets crazy busy during the summer so usually everyone has to take tours by themselves.

On Friday we met this guy named James and we started talking to him and asking what he believed and he's so cool. He said he already has a Book of Mormon and we told him about 3 Nephi 11 when Christ comes to visit the Nephites and he was like, "Hey that's cool! I never actually started reading it yet, but I'm gonna read that chapter first thing when I wake up tomorrow." It was sweet.

Sorry this is short, I forgot my journal at home so I don't remember anything that happened this week.

Here's an awesome quote we shared with an investigator this week and it really touched her:

"True conversion is more than merely having a knowledge of gospel principles and implies even more than just having a testimony of those principles. It is possible to have a testimony of the gospel without living it. Being truly converted means we are acting upon what we believe and allowing it to create "a mighty change in us, or in our hearts. "In the booklet True to the Faith, we learn that "conversion is a process, not an event. You become converted as a result ofrighteous efforts to follow the Savior." It takes time, effort, and work...

The prophet Moroni in the Book of Mormon taught, "I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute notbecause ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." In our world, where instant gratification is the expectation, we are often guilty of expecting the reward without having to work for it. I believe Moroni is telling usthat we must do the work first and exercise faith by living the gospel; then we receive the witness that it is true. True conversion occurs as you continue to act upon the doctrines you know are true and keep the commandments day afterday, month after month." ~Bonnie L. Oscarson

~Sister Temp

May 16, 2016

I found my camera! But this computer is being slow and it doesn't know how to upload pictures but maybe I'll send some next week. Actually maybe it'll figure it out. We'll see. So Saturday was Florence Day! And on Florence Day all the sisters get to dress up in pioneer clothes and march in the big parade. It was so much fun. I'm finally starting to learn all the information. I almost know enough to be able to give a tour by myself, but not quite. I just love working in the trail center and learning about the pioneers and their history. I want to go on a church history tour so bad after my mission.

A couple days ago this guy walked into the trail center and I recognized him and it was this guy that Sister Christensen had taught in her first area and we got to go to his baptism in Omaha last March! I seriously can't believe that was over a year ago. That's just so weird. I can't believe I'm going home a month from today. June 16 is coming way too fast. 

Well, that's all I have time for. Maybe I'll actually send a full email soon.

Ugh, other missionaries keep reading sad scriptures to me. Well, not sad. Just about going home. Like D&C 126:

1 Dear and well-beloved brother, Brigham Young, verily thus saith the Lord unto you: My servant Brigham, it is no more required at your hand to leave your family as in times past, for your offering is acceptable to me.
2 I have seen your labor and toil in journeyings for my name.
3 I therefore command you to send my word abroad, and take especial care of your family from this time, henceforth and forever. Amen.

And 2 Timothy 4:7:

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Quote of the week:  "God the Father watches over us, fills our hearts with breathtaking joy, brightens our darkest hours with blessed peace, distills upon our minds precious truths, shepherds us through times of distress, rejoices when we rejoice, and answers our righteous petitions. He offers to His children the promise of a glorious and infinite existence and has provided a way for us to progress in knowledge and glory until we receive a fulness of joy. He has promised us all that He has. Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect,He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely. What this means is that, regardless of our current state, there is hope for us. No matter our distress, no matter our sorrow, no matter our mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us." ~Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Bonus Quote because I forgot to send one last week: 

"Though none of us will ever have to experience the depth of what our Lord suffered, we each will have our own dark and bitter hours—times when our sorrow and grief may appear to be greater than we can bear. There will be times when the weight and remorse of our sins will press mercilessly upon us.  Even so, if we will lift our hearts to the Lord during those times, surely He will know and understand. He who suffered so selflessly for us in the garden and on the cross will not leave us comfortless now. He will strengthen, encourage, and bless us. He will encircle us in His gentle arms. He will be more than an angel to us. He will bring us blessed comfort, healing, hope, and forgiveness. For He is our Redeemer. Our Deliverer. Our merciful Savior and our blessed God." ~Dieter F. Uchtdorf

~Sister Temp

May 9, 2016

SO I am now officially in the trail center! I'm in the Elmwood ward and my new companion is Sister Borla. She's basically the coolest person ever. Her spirit animal is probably a butterfly because she talks so softly and she's super nice and she kind of flutters around majestically. 

I lost my camera a couple days ago so I don't have any pictures for you today. Hopefully it turns up. I've looked for it everywhere and it's gone, but I know there can be miracles if I believe so I'm not too worried.

Working in the trail center is AWESOME. I wish I had been here sooner, I love it so much. There's so much to learn about everything before I can give tours. It's too bad I didn't actually get to go to the MTC for this so I could've been studying it already, but I'll get it. 

Kay bye!

Oh, and to send me mail, you can just send it directly to the trail center. It's a lot easier that way. 

3215 State Street
Omaha, Nebraska 6811

Bonus picture I stole from Sister Borla's camera! We went to the zoo this morning.​

~Sister Temp

May 2, 2016

This week has been awesome! We found out on Tuesday that our member housing got approved by the mission office and they wanted us moved in with the Leavitts by Saturday, so that was a little crazy. The Capitol sisters ended up moving into our old apartment and now we're living in the Leavitt's basement! I've never stayed in such a nice basement. The ground is all tile and it's HEATED. And the shower is amazing. And basically all of it is so much better than living in a run-down apartment in the sketchiest part of town. We could actually go outside this morning to exercise and we went for a run and they live in such a nice neighborhood. I love it. I'm just sad that I'm probably only staying for 2 more days because I'm almost 100% sure I'm getting transferred on Wednesday. So I would give you my new address, but it'll be different by next week anyway.

On Tuesday we aaaaaaaalmost had a tornado, but not really. We just had a really awesome thunderstorm. Like almost shaking the house awesome. The sky was barely barely tinted green (it didn't really look green at all but the Nebraskans said it was a little green) so we got hopeful but then nothing happened.

MIRACLE: We got a media referral from named Queen (she is so cool, she's from Nigeria) and we went to see her on Wednesday and she's the most prepared person I've ever met on my mission. We invited her to be baptized and she was so excited! She told us that her mom went to a different church and doesn't like the LDS church but Queen wanted to at least take a couple lessons and then talk to her mom more about it. So we had 2 AMAZING lessons with her and thenon Friday she texted and told us she had all the materials she needed and she would keep reading the Book of Mormon but that she didn't want to cause any disunity in her family so she doesn't want any more lessons. But I know she's going to be baptized someday! I've never seen anyone love the gospel so much.

I got to hold a Gecko named Sir Winston Churchill.

We were making frosting at a member's house for dinner last night and their mixer was broken, so we improvised and it was awesome. I now know that drills work waaaaay better than hand mixers.

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Last district picture!

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Quote of the Week:

"In all the pain we must go through, we have to remember the pain that is in others." ~Robert D. Hales

Bonus Quote:

"If we look for imperfections or irritation in others, we will certainly find them, because everyone has some. On the other hand, if we look for the good, we will surely find it, because everyone has many good qualities too." ~Dieter F. Uchtdorf

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​~Sister Temp

April 25, 2016

The flippin sky is beautiful! I am so excited for storm season. We've had some sweet storms already, the thunder makes it hard to sleep sometimes because it's so loud! (The sirens make it hard too . . . we live in a suuuuuper nice part of Lincoln. But don't worry, we feel safe because there's always a ton of cops in our neighborhood.)

We had interviews with President Gardner on Wednesday and they were awesome! I actually found out that I most likely (almost 100% definitely) will be transferred next week. So that's good to know. Transfers came so fast, they're on Wednesday, May 4. So if you have any mail to send, you should probably send it either today or tomorrow or maaayybe the next day. But after that, you should just wait for my new address. If what President told me actually happens, then I'm gonna have the coolest transfer ever. Except it's still a secret, so you'll find out in 2 weeks.

Do you want to hear the coolest miracle EVER? So yesterday morning, Sister Morrin and I were at the church building talking to the Spanish elders in our ward in the foyer and then all of a sudden this guy walks in. None of us knew who he was, so of course we start talking to him and asking him all these questions and he told us that his name is Denver, that he had just moved to Lincoln from Iowa, that missionaries had just met him in Iowa before he left and they gave him all the pamphlets, and then he had looked up online where and when church was, and then he came! And he was like 40 minutes early too. And we asked if he had thought about baptism and he said, "Oh yeah, the last missionaries said I could be baptized on May 28 so I'm hoping to still make that date." He is so cool! Nobody just walks in asking to be baptized! He even said he watched general conference! He actually said that he was glad our ward met at 9 because in Iowa they met at 11 and he likes church earlier so he jokingly called them "The Church of Jesus Christ of the later-in-the-day Saints." He is the coolest guy ever. We won't get to teach him because he'll be going to the singles ward, but it was so cool to meet him.

Sister Morrin finally got her voice back on Friday, so it was only gone for 7 days straight, which is apparently not as bad as last time.

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Quote of the Week:

"If all the talent, tact, wisdom, and refinement of the world had been sent to me with the Book of Mormon, and had declared, in the most exalted of earthly eloquence, the truth of it, undertaking to prove it by learning and worldly wisdom, they would have been to me like the smoke which arises only to vanish away. But when I saw a man without eloquence, or talents for public speaking, who could only say, “I know, by the power of the Holy Ghost, that the Book of Mormon is true, that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of the Lord,” the Holy Ghost proceeding from that individual illuminated my understanding, and light, glory, and immortality were before me. I was encircled by them, filled with them, and I knew for myself that the testimony of the man was true."  ~Brigham Young

​Twins!

~Sister Temp