18

Nicole's Letter: 18

Dec. 26, 2017

I have 18 weeks left.  And so I am going to do 18 lessons I have learned on my mission.  I have been recording some lessons throughout my mission and so here is the first one.  (also got to throw in some spiritual upliftment to balance yesterday's Skype call:)

#1: "Thy will be done. God's plan is greater than our plan and we have to trust that it is.  It takes extreme faith to let go but we have to trust God and His timing.  He sees the big picture" January 2017  That is definitely one of the first lessons I have learned that I need to remember that God knows a lot better than I do.  And that sometimes we go through really hard things yet if we are in align with God, all things will work out. 

This week was super fun!

New companion: Sister John.  

Area: Same

Yet Christmas was awesome!  We went caroling again on Saturday which was super fun!

We have awesome members that make us feel really loved!  It was good!

And sorry, another week at the library so no pictures :(

Love you All!

TRANSFERS.............

Nicole's Letter: Transfers

Dec. 19, 2017

Hello Family!

Guess what...I am staying another transfer in Manito! 

Yes you read that correct.  

That will make my 5 transfer here.  Crazy to think that I got here in July when it was super hot and sunny and nice.  Now it is super wet, cold and snowy and gray.  We got a call from President on Friday and he started off by saying, "The Savior asked his disciples many times what desireth thou. And so I am asking what desireth thou?"  That was not what I was expecting.  And everyone knows that I am one of the most indecisive people ever so I told him whatever he needed me to do.  And he was like well we want you to train in Manito but we wanted to see if you would die if you stayed another transfer there.  I told him that it would be a very long time and that I would be open for a change but at the same time I am open to do anything and can stay.  I don't think I gave him a clear enough answer since at the end of the phone call he was like "You aren't helping us Sister Stevenson"  I think he wanted me to say definitely one or the other.  But with transfers everything is so up in the air that I didn't want to make that decision. So then on Sunday he texted us and said that I would be staying.  So pray that I won't go crazy trying the same people just kidding.  I know everyone in the area book but we have solid investigators that we need to help progress! It will be fun! 

Winter has finally hit!  I am sad that it finally hit but happy that it didn't snow until December 16th!! That made me extremely happy!  

We went caroling downtown by the mall this weekend and it was super fun! Only missionaries would literally carol in masses of people handing out candy canes and light the world cards and think it was a super fun Saturday night! I can't wait to FaceTime with all of you on Monday! It will be way fun! 

Love you all!

The only beauty in snow 

Sister Hulsey and I

Amazing members that give us cute wrapped gifts

Gifts

Nicole's Letter: Gifts

December 11, 2017

We had zone conference this week and it was awesome! Zone conference always comes when I need it the most! It always is such a good recharge for me.  I love President and Sister Dymock! They are the best!

They talked about giving gifts to the Savior.  

So this week I started giving a gift to the Savior each day.  It was cool to really focus on doing something for the Savior each day.

I mean some of them were not that big Gift of Listening, Gift of patience, gift of compromise.  

And then I started to see all the gifts people were giving to me.  Gift of rides, Gift of time, gift of service.  So many!  I challenge everyone for one week to give a gift to the Savior and notice all the gifts that we do have!

This Saturday we were walking up the street and I noticed this person sitting on the step across the road.  I looked at her and I knew that I needed to talk to her but I was like we are already late for a ride that someone is giving us and she is across the street and we are late (making excuses) But the only thing that was coming to my head was a couple elders in the zone a couple transfers ago would always say "Cross the awkward street gap"  And so I just said hello and crossed the street.  We crossed the awkward street gap and I am so glad I did.  We talked to her for a bit and she said that it was super weird that we started talking to her because she had be going through a really hard time and just was thinking about God and then we walked over to her.  She asked us if we could pray with her and so we said a simple prayer.  She said that she was super grateful that we stopped and talked to her.  I am so grateful for the simple spiritual impressions that we receive and follow.  Even though I won't be able to see her again since she lives in Cheney I knew that it is the small and simple things that bring to pass great things.  I am grateful for the small things that God gives me.  

We had the Ward Christmas party which was super fun as well!!!

Went on exchanges with Sister Norman and we got MOD pizza with one of the YSA members.  It was so good! and then we went to get Coldstone.

Transfers are next Wednesday on the 20th and then we get to talk on the 25th!!!!! Can't wait!

Holidays

Our junk wreaths

 Real tree

Waiting for the bus

my second mother on a mission

Nicole's Letter: "Holidays"

Hello!!

Some highlights this week

It snowed a little this week but it hasn't really come so that is good!! It will probably come this week though.  

LIGHT THE WORLD!!! Everyone better be doing light the world!  It is awesome! Go to mormon.org ​​

We have been able to talk to a lot of people by talking about Light the World! It is so amazing! 

We had a Relief Society activity where we made junk wreaths.  It was super fun!  

This ward is probably the best ward ever!!!  Brother Warr (our WML) and his family got us a REAL Christmas tree!!! I mentioned a couple months ago (totally joking since I didn't think I would be here for Christmas) if they could get me a real Christmas tree and then this week at coordination they were like this is your Christmas tree, lights and ornaments!! It was so great!! And then we had dinner at the Plasters with the Moran Prairie sisters and their cute 17 year old investigator that got baptized on Saturday.  I am super sad that I won't be here for Christmas day but at least I get a lot of it!  I love so many people.  It is weird how some people can just become like family. 

We had a super fun pday and we went to take Christmas photos with Sister Blake and then went Downtown and had lunch and shopped! It was fun!

Quote of the week:

Dale Carnegie, a well-known American author and lecturer, believed that each person has within himself or herself the “power to increase the sum total of [the] world’s happiness … by giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged.” Said he, “Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.”

AND

I have wept in the night

For the shortness of sight

That to somebody’s need made me blind;

But I never have yet

Felt a tinge of regret

For being a little too kind