January 2018

Hello!! We had lots of exchanges this past week which is always fun.  Sister Lilley came to Manito and we talked a lot about missions since we are a transfer off. Talked about the craziness of Spokane. It sometimes is a weird place but good at the same time! I love the people that I have met. 

Some highlights:

Had a lesson with Travis that we have been teaching since I have been here and this week we committed him to pray  when he should be baptized and he said he would. Then a couple days later he said that February 8th cant get out of his mind. So he is preparing for that day! It is exciting! Hopefully he can beat some old habits before that! 

It snowed a ton on Thursday and God is real! We had zone conference that day so we weren't out in the snow storm. And also we had it at our church building instead of in the valley so we didn't even have to drive that far! I think God knows that I can't drive in snow! It was such a tender mercy! Zone conference was good, it was all about technology. We have to update for 2 to 3 hours a day for a month. It is kind of insane. 

Something that I learned this week.

Life is a give and take. When you are willing to give a little people are much more willing to change.

We sang in stake conference and I was singing alto with 2 other people and literally none of us were singing the same note so it was interesting. People just said that the spirit was really strong, nothing about the talent haha. 

Today was probably the best pday ever. Sister Blake took us to Costco and then we had lunch at her house and she made us super good soup. Then we went snow shoeing on a trail by her house. It was so fun. I felt like a real person today! I love this ward and the people that we are teaching. Lilly is getting baptized February 3rd! She is the cutest! I love the Wight family! I have seen them go through some ups and downs.  But the gospel does bless families. Sometimes we just have to go into the dark to realize the light that we do have. 

We are having dinner with the Blakes and their friend this Friday. And he has been going to seminary every day this week. Sister Blake says that he comes to their house at 545 every morning with a big smile on his face. He is so fun and nice and loves the gospel! 

Sister John is awesome and chill.

Stake conference was super good. The theme was more holiness give me. I loved one speaker that talked about prayer.  They said that most times answers to prayers don't usually come when we are on our knees they come after and that is why it is important to find time to be still. And I know that is true in most cases, most times I don't feel that much when I pray but it comes after, comes in little pieces here and there. In the video Hope of gods light it says "Rarely does lightness come to those that sit in darkness". 

Hope all is well!! Love to all!

GORILLA MAN

I met the gorilla man that has haunted my dreams for years.  Remember the cub scout leader for the twins that popped out as a gorilla.  His family moved from Walnut Creek a couple months ago into the Manito ward.  He looked up our family on facebook and he was like "That is your dad, I know him! We are buds.  And we went to wood badge together until he dropped out" haha  it was a weird connection. 

There are so many amazing things happening in this area! We had some good lessons this week and found some people! 

Yesterday the Blakes walked into church and she asked us when she was feeding us next and I was like "Oh no, we forgot to tell her that it is tonight"  We were like it actually is tonight.  She was like oh okay well you can come over, don't know what we are having but just come over.  And then like an hour before dinner she texted and said that her son's friend Frankie texted Nathan and asked if the missionaries were somehow coming over tonight because he missed coming to church and wants to meet with us! 

It was awesome!  There are moments that like that that make me realize that God really is in the details of our lives.  It was amazing!  And the lesson went great. After we said amen, he jumped up and was like "I got to go ask my mom if I can go to seminary tomorrow!"  He was so excited!  It really is amazing how our examples go so far.  We asked how each one of them have experienced hope through Jesus Christ and Frankie was like "I know that God is watching over me by sending me friends like Ben (another kid in the ward) and everyone else to show me this.  And going to church just makes me feel good"  

Pray that his family will be in support! 

that was that this week

2017

This year.....

Was my black out year on my mission and now it is over.  That is kind of crazy to think about.  

Some things this year.

1. I was a missionary

I was reading through my old journals to try to cheer up my companion and it was fun to look through what I have gone through this year.  Never did I imagine some of the things that I have been through.  Going through Post Falls and learning some of my biggest life lessons on charity and total reliance of God.  Now looking back, it definitely was God humbling me to my knees.  He knew that I needed to be broken in order for Him to help me do this mission.  

Went to the middle of nowhere and loved so many people in Grangeville, Idaho.  To me that was a little paradise vacation.  So many nice people and warm summer days were there. 

Then to Manito where I have stayed half the year.  And it has been a good half, with lots of laughs and tears.  Some really hot days and now really cold icy days.  I seriously don't know how I manage to fall so much.  If I don't leave the South hill without a broken bone I will be impressed.  My neck, elbow, hip, and knees hurt so much, stupid ice!

I am so happy that I had all of 2017 to serve as a full time missionary!  Last year I wrote in my journal "I hope that I can look back on 2017 with fondness" (Don't know why I used that word) But i definitely can say that I do.  It has been a great year!  And this year is going to be a year to remember!

 caroling

sister john and i

pizza with some missionaries

temple

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