It's Been Real Idaho.

district, it was a funny group.  The Up River District (the name of our district but the elders just called it the Turd.)  We got the elder on the left that shirt at the thrift store since he is the biggest cowboy and then Sister Norman made him that tie.

Lezlie, LOVE HER so much!!!  Just saying goodbye at her work.

Photos: 

Rachael and Hailee! Said goodbye to them yesterday.  They have been the best! Tuesdays at 4 were always a highlight of the week!

Lynda! Everyone loves Lynda! One day it will be her turn and she will be able to do the work for herself and then her ancestors but until that day comes she just loves every single missionary that comes and adopts them! I am sad to leave for the 4th of July since Sam (her husband) invited us over to watch the fireworks!

The Joslins! My last lesson in Grangeville was with the Joslins.  I love their family so much.  Sister Packer and I went on a hunt for them so many times since they live far away in Whitebird and we had so many different addresses for them.  But one day we just kept trying to find their house.  We went through about 5 private property and do not trespass and as missionaries in the Boone areas you can get pass about 2 with being safe but after that you should turn around but for some reason we kept going. I was terrified pulling up because I didn't know how they would react and we were only shown love by them.  The first lesson, Sister Packer and I came out of that lesson feeling so much love for them.  And last night Ryan prayed vocally for the first time ever.  The first lesson we had there he didn't even know who God was or how to pray.  It was such a simple, heartfelt prayer and the spirit was so strong.  When he closed and opened his eyes he was smiling for ear to ear.  It was such a good moment.  Going to miss the country folk, they sure are different than city and I think I like country people A LOT!  They all have such big hearts.  

And everyone had kittens that we enjoyed in our photos :)

Friday was such a good day!  We had district meeting in the morning and then we helped someone move from Kooskia (in the Kamiah ward).  They are actually moving to Cottonwood so the Grangeville ward!  He is a recent convert and she is less active.  But it was far into Kamiah area so it was pretty to see that part of the district.  Then we got home and said goodbye to Lezlie since we were pretty sure I was leaving since of interviews this week and she was leaving town.  Had dinner with the Peirces which was good.  Then we went to the Domans.  Brother Doman is one of my favorites!  He is such a nice guy.  They live out on the prairie.  They don't come to church that much.  I learned such a valuable lesson from him that night.  We were just talking in his yard.  The sun was going down highlighting the freshly bailed hay and he started telling us about this girl that was working for them.  She is 16 years old and is in a somewhat abusive home.  He wanted us to meet her without "proselyting" to her.  We offered that we could come just do service the same time she was over.  He thought that was a good idea.  But the lesson that I learned that night was that anyone can share the gospel.  No matter how weak or strong, simple or eloquent or testimonies are, we can share the gospel because the gospel is love.  We are commanded to share his life and light and love with others.  We can all show people the love that our Heavenly Father has for each one of us.  This sometimes can be a lonely journey but we never have to do it alone because Heavenly Father gave us each other.    It was a good friday night in the Prairie!  I just can't even put to words the many lessons I have learned.

pictures: sister norman and me :)

Nicole's Letter: "It's been real Idaho!"

July 3rd, 2017

This is the best thing ever!  I am so happy and I am just taking in the happiness since change is always a bit hard so I am loving every second I am still in Grangeville.  

I am going to Moran Prairie in Spokane.  My new companion is Sister Madsen and I have sent every companion there.  Sister Lake and Sister Packer both went to here after me...so hopefully she is excited for me to come and not dreading it haha since she definitely has heard of me :)

This week was so good!

Some quotes:

Corlene (a 8 year old in the ward)  We were over at their house for dinner and she has a half brother who is like 22 and isn't a member.  So we were talking to Corlene to see if he would like to meet with us and she was saying how he probably would be okay with it.  Then she said "His temple is not clean yet, he just has to stop smoking and then his temple will be pure"  "Ryan's temple is for sure not clean" (about her other older half brother).  Their family is awesome.  Brother Gi is a convert about 6 years and they have such good and funny kids.  Brother Gi's older son is so sweet.  He is trying to come to church but he works on Sunday so he can give that paycheck to his birthmom who has no money.  People are truly amazing. 

Another quote from Corlene.  We were invited to come into a primary class and talk about missions.  We asked them what they thought we did all day.  Then Sister Norman asked if they knew what tracting was.  All of them said no.  So she said "It is where you go around knocking on strangers doors and talk about the gospel"  Then Corlene said "Wouldn't that scare people?"  Haha yep it does Corlene.  Then she was like "I don't know if I want to go on one" 

Then we went to the Ank's.  Sister Ank is less active and her husband isn't a memeber.  They have two grandkids that they watch during the day.  Piper who is 9 and Renegade who is 5.  

Here is a little funny conversation 

Ren: "Do you have any kids?"

Sis Ank: "They don't have any kids yet"

Ren: "Well, you should buy some."

Then after we taught the plan of salvation with some cut outs, Piper asked "How do you even know all this, research? Or did you come up with it?"  We explained how we know this and then she was like "My biggest question is where do babies even come from?"  It was funny.

Sunny Days

This week was super good!!

When no one emails.........

Monday:  All of our lessons got cancelled.  We had three solid lessons lined up and one by one they starting dropping. I mean I was bummed but it didn't really phase me since I know that there are other things that I can do.  My first two transfers when things got cancelled I got so depressed but now I just move on :)

Tuesday:  In the morning we went to Cottonwood and one of the Relief Society counselor who is so funny (kind of reminds me of Carol Bush) took us out with her to go visit some less actives.  Then we went to the store since she was going to buy cookies for her friend and we were in the store forever since she knows everyone and she introduced us to everyone! It was awesome!  Then we went to visit her friend who has been asking her questions and one time came up to her in tears and said I need what your family has.  But then she has fizzled in interest since her husband doesn't really like the church.  Then we had lunch with Sister Rambo.  She said that I look like Jennifer Lawrence so that was good I guess :)  Then we went to Dales again and chopped, hauled and stacked more wood.  It was very hot.  This time one of Dale's friends was over and he was from Oakland.  He was there for when the temple was built and dedicated so it was fun talking to him about it.  Then we had a lesson with a member family and they taught us the Plan of Salvation.  They are awesome!

Wednesday:  Was probably my last day at the thrift store since I will probably be getting transferred next week (but who knows?!).  The thrift store ladies are always so nice and they love us so much!  They were all giving us hugs and saying that they were going to call the one in charge and tell them to keep us.  Then we had a lesson with Rachael, the nine year old that we are teaching.  We taught the Plan of Salvation on the trampoline.  Her mom is a member and she was going to be baptized in June but she wants to wait for her 7 year old sister to turn 8 in September so they can do it together.  It was fun though.  Then we had a lesson with Hannah and she was super emotional.  She has met with missionaries for the past 10 years! She knows it is true but just doesn't want to change.  At one point she just sighed and said "I don't know what to tell you, I am just Catholic".  So we are working with her to actually read and pray to know.

Thursday:  We got asked to speak in church so we went and invited all of our friends.  We invited Irene who is Lezlie's (RC) mother-in-law who is so cute and nice! She said that she was going to come with Lezlie!  Then we went by a ton of other people.  One guy who runs the Downtowner Inn, Mike, he said he couldn't come but then he gave us some flowers and spearmint leaves.  Then Lyn (who is our favorite! She wants to be baptized so badly but her husband isn't supportive) told us that she might have breast cancer.  She said that she knows that God is in charge and it probably is him pushing her to be baptized because she has work to do for her ancestors. Pray that her husband's heart will soften.  Then we drove to Lewiston since we had Zone Conference on Friday in Moscow.

Friday:  Zone Conference and it was the greatest ever!!  The APs gave such a good training (some of the highlights are in the other email since I know that no one would read this email if I put all those thoughts in this because it would be so overwhelming with all the words :)  It really made me so grateful that I am on a mission! This is the greatest! Serving my Savior makes me so happy.  I really do believe that when we lose ourselves for Christ's sake we find ourselves because there is more of us to find!  There are so many things that I wish would happen or wouldn't but those don't change the deep underlying happiness that I feel! I love being a missionary and I love Grangeville!  We went on exchanges after Zone Conference and I went to Clarkston.  We walked a lot and it was hot but we met a ton of people.  This guy was riding his bike and I said Hello! And asked how he was doing so he slowed down! (I felt accomplished since he was on a bike and he had headphones in and we got him to stop and talk to us).  We talked about the restoration and he was interested.  Then he said that I looked like Kesha and took a picture...so we will see if the Clarkston sisters ever meet with him.  Also, I need to work on getting people's number... So many awkward encounters.  One guy said that he would totally give me his number if I was older... and then this guy in Clarkston I was saying we would like to share more and then I was like do you have a phone (Obviously he had a phone, he was listening to music from it and holding it in his hand right in front of me, felt like an idiot :)

I have really come to know the truth of the twins statement "People can't hate happy".  It is so true! They might not be all too thrilled at what you are doing or sharing but they can't completely hate you if you are happy!  I have found the trick, Just make everyone feel like they are so important that you are going to stop and talk to them! And then smile and pray for the best :)

Saturday:  Exchanges still.  I love the summer since everyone is outside and it is so easy to offer help when they are working in the yard.  We were at this person's house and I saw this older lady doing some yard work so I was like let's go over there and talked to her.  So we ended up helping her pick up some leaves and weeds and talked to her about her family.  I love learning about people and I have come to realize that God really does love everyone!

Sunday:  We gave talks in sacrament...not my favorite but Irene came!!!  Then we went to Whitebird with the Joslins.  It was a good lesson.  It is really cool to see people develop their faith.  When Sister Packer and I first found Ryan he didn't even know who God was.  He didn't know what prayer was or anything and last night he said that he had been talking to God more and more.  It is neat to see the connections that he makes that Heavenly Father does care about him and knows him by name. 

And that is the week. It is sunny and I am happy :) And this is what you get when no one emails me....a big fat email that no one will probably will read but oh well it is just my journal entry :)

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK!

The APs gave such a good training called
 "It's Possible!" Here are some of the highlights - There's a difference between motivation and inspiration. "Understanding doctrine creates vision" (Elder Ardern). Using the eye of faith, open up your minds and see what God wants you to become. Focus on all that is good and optimistic. Ask yourself - what kind of a servant you want to be. Then figure out how to become that servant.  Change doesn't work unless you do. Let the Savior change you. Les Brown, (audio) motivational speaker: "There are winners. There are losers. And there are people who've not discovered how to win... Operate out of your imagination, not your memory."
Elder Cummings training  "The greatest weapon on earth is a human soul on fire! We are working outside ourselves for something bigger and better. I saw it in Elder Holland. He's probably the greatest weapon on earth! He said, "Look at me and see the fire in my eyes and the flame in my soul." From the Iron Giant movie: 'You are who you CHOOSE to BE". BE EASILY INSPIRED! Humble yourself in any setting and say "This is going to change me!" Anything can inspire you, change you. Look at things and be changed. Come out of things and say it changed my life. Find something that you can do to change. You should meet up in a companion you see later on and they should see a change in you. "

Picture: Mike gave us roses

some old photos from p-days :)

June 19 Update

Hello everyone!!

Quote of the week:

"Hey, listen up, the sisters are inviting you to not resist happiness"

and honestly if I knew that mom wouldn't be mad I would leave my email as that but since the internet went out last week I guess I will write more :)

But I thought that quote was funny but super true.  We are here to invite people to live better lives and ultimately become happier, just people don't always see that!  The gospel is a gospel of change.  As humans we don't necessary like that.  We are asked to become better and sometimes that is hard but thank goodness for the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  I am so grateful for the enabling power of the atonement.  I love the fact that I know that I can be forgiven of my mistakes and sins, that God loves me despite my imperfections and that he is not a referee trying to kick us out of the game.   

Well let's try to sum up the last two weeks...

We met Bentley who is funny.  The first time we met her she "read our souls".  She said that Sister Norman was observant, quite and thoughtful.  And then she turned to me and said that I say more than I would like to and have to put my foot in my mouth, she was like You are just like me.  Haha didn't know how to take that :)  But she definitely feels the spirit when we are around.  She has been going to counseling and she said that after she met us she hasn't had that much to say to her counselor since she is more at peace and happy.  She also was like "I use to think that the Mormon church was a cult but since meeting you two I can't see you two being cult type of people"  Well I am glad that she can't see us being in a cult.  Then we saw her on Saturday and she was like 'I really need to go to church! I am going to go to church tomorrow" Music to our hears expect we slowly realized that she wasn't talking about our church ha. funny thing is that is not the first time that has happened to me on my mission.  People just don't really connect feeling the spirit to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  But glad she is feeling the spirit and getting back into church.  We helped her with her patio furniture and that was fun.  

We meet this lady from the Philippians named Verna.  She is so nice!  So the Elders actually knocked on her door on the blitz and she told them that her and her husband were busy but they could come back.  So we went and she let us in and was like "What can I do for you".  We taught her the restoration and she was appreciative, we will see where that goes.  We don't know if she was trying to reject us but she definitely didn't do it hard enough if she was trying too :)  They are such a sweet and nice couple!!! We left her house and we were like is that what it is like in foreign country missions, lucky! ha

We walk a lot.  We were walking down the street and this guy said hi to us and so we stopped and talked.  He was like "You have something for me to read?"  The Elders a while back ago did service for him.  And then he was like "You got your 3 miles in for today"  Everyone in Grangeville knows who we are and knows that we walk everywhere!  A lot of people stop us and ask how did we ended up in Grangeville since they know missionaries in South America and Africa.  Yep, missionaries are still needed in Grangeville:)

We volunteer at the thrift store which is super fun.  When ever we walk in the volunteers which are a bunch of middle aged women, say "The angels are here!"  We like them :)

Grangeville is such a nice place!!! I feel like I am not even part of a mission but it is super nice! And it is crazy how much people tell the missionaries! I know so much about everyone's personal lives, it is crazy!

well, if you have made it through this email without getting lost, congratulations :)

love you all!!!!

went fishing for the first time last p-day....one day I will realize the big hype about fishing but since I am on a mission it was quite fun :)

whitebird

Learning to Walk

We had a lesson with Brother Sterling this week and he compared learning how to recognize the voice of the Lord like learning how to walk.  That is very true.  Sometimes learning how to recognize spiritual promptings is easy and sometimes it is super hard and you just want to fall to the ground because you don't know if it is the spirit or your own thoughts.  However I do know that when we listen and follow we will be so happy like a child taking their first couple steps (I am just picturing the picture of me learning how to walk in the front room:)  I am learning that we should just act on any good thought and then we won't miss any of them that are from God :)

This week there were a couple moments like that.  They were cool.

Some events...everyday is blending all together

1.  Did some more wood chucking

2.  Met this cute old man named Ted.  He was completely drunk just eating chips and drinking his beer in his lawn chair but man was he happy! He was so nice, hopefully he will be nice to us when he is totally wasted :) But we said that we would bring the chips next time!

3.  Lots of people cried this week that we talked to, I think it is starting to be a normal thing :0

4.  Awesome lesson with Ryan and Brother Draleau came, who is like 30 and has 4 kids but is such an awesome missionary! One day, hopefully I'll be that good!

If [we] would open [our] hearts to the refining influence of this unspeakable gift 

of the Holy Ghost, a glorious new spiritual dimension would come to light.

 -Elder Wirthlin

milkshakes

birthday hike

Some old ones with Sister Packer

Rachael and the Summers :)

The Joslins

Wynona

Cutting Wood.

the fields are so pretty here

whitebird hill

 Birthday love from Sister Norman

candid calls and texts picture

a house that was on our ward list....

foreign exchange students that lived at a members home

Some happenings:

1. I have no cavities! I have been having some tooth pain so there are a couple dentists in the ward and one of them said that I should come in and he would take a look...NO CAVITIES!!! Just the last filling that I had was super close to the nerve so it bothers me sometimes.

2. We went to see Lezlie's mother-in-law Irene and that was fun! Showed us some pictures of her garden and then gave us Pepsi

3.  Learned how to cut and stack wood this week.  Not one of my strengths.  We talked to this man named Dale a couple weeks ago and offered some service.  He said that he might and took our number but no one really ever follows through with that but he called us on Friday! He had some wood in his truck.  So we hauled lots of wood and then he made us try and cut some with an ax.  Yah you can just imagine me with a big heavy ax trying to hit a small target....eventually I made it through the log but it was very uneven.  And then we made an assembly line.  Sister Norman was throwing the wood down the stairs to Dale and then Dale wood throw it to me and I would stack it.  It was pretty funny.  Also, the wheelbarrow was super heavy and you had to go over this little bump and we both tried doing it.  I actually made it but Sister Norman went down with the wheel barrow and logs went all over.  It was funny.  We then had watermelon on Dale's porch after.

4.  Yesterday had a district Blitz.  So the elders came to Grangeville and then we went to Orofino.  It was a pretty drive and then we walked around Orofino and these kids were riding their bikes and they were like "Hello! Can you come teach us about God!"  Thought I would never hear that on my mission;).  Apparently when sisters use to be in Orofino they would go to their house and teach them.  But the little girls were pretty insistent on us talking to their parents to see if we could come back. But their parents were having a party in the backyard.  The little girl took us there and then she was like okay you can go talk to them.  (there were a ton of adults there) So we were like do you want to introduce us so the little girl was like "Sister Stevenson and Norman are here"  It was funny.  The mom was nice.  

5. We also met these two guys named Vit and Dick (don't know if those are there real names...)  Anyways, there was a old guy with one leg in a wheelchair and another middle aged man working on putting together a garden box.  Both were shirtless and for a moment I thought the old man was naked in his wheelchair, i was praying he wasn't.  Don't worry he had shorts on you just couldn't really see them. So we walked up to them and started talking to them.  They were pretty funny.  Vit was Russian and had a strong thick accent.  At the end he was like "Sorry I am being a jerk, I just don't know what to say"  So now I know why people are jerks to us, they just don't know what to say haa

love to all!!!!