Wharfe Valley

Mummy and Daddy!!!!!!!!!!

The weeks seem to fly by don't they? Remember how it was just a year ago that I was trying to get all my mission papers done!?! WOW....that seems like only yesterday. Remember how it's officially my 7th month mark today?! QUOI!? Wow....I really don't know where the time goes. Remember how John Michael and Joyce Eleanor Bowman got BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHOOOO! BAM! MIRACLE! NEXT! Oh it was so amazing!!!!!! They both were proper nervous, Mick especially, he was shaking all over the joint. Their story still boggles my mind.

Every day in Leeds, Mick picked up a pass along card from the Elders, and he went home and posted them on his wall for some reason. Then one day he was the lowest of the low, sat on his bed thinking to himself that he needed to change. He could not and would not continue living life the same way. He looked up at the cards....and stared at them for a good twenty minutes.....Something inside of him told him to call for a Book of Mormon. That was it....he did. He picked up the phone straight away, and then we came on the scene. The rest is history. He read, he prayed, felt the Spirit, and it completely changed his life around. Joyce watched her husband transform and knew there was something to this whole church thing. Three weeks later they were baptized!!!! BAM! MIRACLE!

I cannot tell you how incredible it was to watch the pair of them come out of that font (Mick came out a few times ;) and see their little eyeballs glitter about. After all the talks, and musical numbers finished, Mick stood and said a few words. He bore his testimony and thanked the people that helped him along in his journey...ending with Sister Lamb and myself. He called us his angels telling us we saved his life! :D The Spirit was whacking me in the uvula and I was all sorts of choked up! Oh it was incredible!

In other news after the baptism, we went over to a member's house for tea, and whilst we were waiting, their little girl played jungle gym on us. The mother calls said child over after a bit and says, "Let's put your medicine on".....huh?......Come to find out said child had............can you guess it.......chicken pox....no........leprosy...... no........cooties.......maybe........BUT she had.............Head Lice.......yes my friends, she had head lice. After a couple minutes of letting this "medicine" soak into the kid's hair, Sister Lamb pointed at her head and said," Uh.......are those lice?" This "medicine" (aka sludge of death) suffocated them out of hiding, and these black sesame seeds scurried down her forehead, making a break for the eyebrows!! BAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was our cue to go. So we went home at the end of the night and combed through each other's hair. Sister Lamb burrowed through my hair.....and the next two words she hissed did not make me happy....."*inhale* oh...no....." Yep....my friends, this little girl had head lice and so did we. :D BUT.....we treated it and we're lice free.....for now.....BAM! MIRACLE! NEXT!

We had such a good week. We just had Zone P-Day at the chapel.....we all played sports....you name it, we played it. I feel like I've been smacked with a stick....oh wait....I was...right in the face! I wish my camera wasn't dead so I could show you the gremlin of a blood blister growing out of my lip. :D EPIC! Not to worry, I have all my teeth still. But I was a fearsome warrior and beat everyone at chair football.....my one claim to fame :D Whatcha! I am so grateful to be out here. It's so crazy to see how much time has just flown by! ....I still have a few moments left before I have to figure out what I'm going to do with the rest of my life :D hahah I love you so much! I am so thankful for prayer and the power I get from the many prayers that are said on my behalf. Thank you so much for letting me be out here! I love you so much!

Love Always and Forever
Your Sister White.

Wharfe Valley February 2011

Mummy and Daddy,

First off, thank you so mch for the Balemtimes Gift!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sister Lamb saw the uber long skinny parcel at the office whilst we were on exchange, (I'll get to that in a bit), saw that there was "lip gloss" in it and told me I had a GIGANTIC LIPGLOSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's what I'm talking about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D It was perfect! I loved everything! Tried on, ate, experimented with everything inside straight away!!!! HA-HA! Yeah! Thank you!

This week has been pretty epic. It started out with Zone Conference where we heard from President and Sister Lindley, watched videos, had lunch and had a question and answer session for what 6 hours?! no....more like 4 but it was wonderful. I'm in the "Mighty Leeds Zone" and we all got matching Leeds Zone Ties.....well......we were one short........guess who didn't get one.....................yep............story of my life.........that's alright.....I don't need one....I have my magnetic personality and having a sensational tie would just put me right over the top....it's for the best really. It's ok...I'm not bitter :D hahaha.

Straight after Zone Conference Sister Lamb and I went on exchange with the Pontefract Sisters. So Sister Alidi and I rampaged Pontefract. We were two caroling fiends! I believe I lived a musical for a day. BAM! MIRACLE!!!! I've missed singing all the time. "Would you like some Mi-i-i-i-i-i-lk?!" "Some milk some milk..I really want some milk!!!" etc etc. We sang at every body and everybody listened hahahaha. We found some golden investigators, and scheduled a man named Eric Beer for baptism!!!! haHA! BAM MIRACLE! Now that's what I'm talking about. Our tea appointment fell through, so the member, Brother Maron, who came with us to see Eric invited us over; however, we had to "pay" for our meal by singing, "Be Still My Soul".....so...... we did. When the song finished, Brother and Sister Maron were beside themselves and their inactive son was "touched." BAM! MIRACLE! That's what I'm talking about! The spirit can do amazing things!

Speaking of amazing things, Mick and Joyce were all prepped and ready for their baptismal interview, when we got a call saying that they could not obey the Law of Tithing because they've been on the poverty line before and they would NOT allow themselves to get into that spot again....bah! So we grabbed our Branch President, Pres. Craig, and went over to talk with them. Ooooooh ....tense.......but we all testified that if they paid their tithing God would NOT let them go without. We discussed this for about an hour. Mick got up and left the room . Shoot......we waited, talked with Joyce some more.....then after ten minutes Mick came back in the room and said, "It's fine....we'll sort something out. I know there's a solution. We'll pay it" BAM! MIRACLE! They agreed to have their interview and they PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BAM! MIRACLE! Uggh! SO GOOD! They are all set and ready for this Saturday! They are some of the most prepared people I've ever met! Wow! We're so excited for them! So I'll keep you posted with that.

Life is good. I just feel like I need to share how I KNOW that Heavenly Father hears AND answers prayers! I know that he loved us so much he sent Jesus Christ to open the doors of heaven so that we can live with God again. I just need to say how much I love and appreciate my Savior....wow.....The more I think about it and the more I read the scriptures, the more I am in awe of the many things that Jesus Christ did for me....and the more I realize that I am nothing and that he is EVERYTHING....yet he still pays attention to every paper cut, allergic rash, every frustration, every little niggly thing that's happening in my life. I am so grateful that I've been granted my testimony.... that it meant enough to me to do what I needed to do to find it. More than anything, I appreciate how my testimony is really becoming a part of me....everything i do or don't do is out of love for my maker. How crazy is that....I have a maker....and I appreciate him so much, and he trusts me with amazing people and growing experiences....wow....who am I? I just want to tell you how much I love you! Thank you for all you do for me and all the prayers that are sent my way...I definitely feel them. MMMMWAH!

Love always and forever,
YOUR Sister Stephanie White

Wharfe Valley February 2011

Mummy and Daddy,

Happy Valentines' Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope this lovely day of love is full of love and loveness!

We had quite the eventful week this week. Where to begin?
Mick and Joyce are doing sooooooooooo well. They walked into the church yesterday and guess what......MICK WORE A BRAND NEW SUIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BAM! MIRACLE! NEXT! Oh you should have seen the way their faces glowed as they pranced through the doors!!!!! They keep talking about how all the negative feelings they feel throughout the day seem to follow us out the door when we visit. They feel like a weight has been lifted from their shoulders and they know what we do for people is from God. During one of our lessons, I felt prompted to leave Mosiah 18 (Alma baptizing at the waters of Mormon) for Mick. During our next lesson, Mick said he read that chapter over and over and over again. He couldn't get it out of his head. He was quiet for a while and said, "I'm going to make a promise with everyone right here....in six weeks...I will be ready for baptism." BAM! MIRACLE! (this was before we even taught him the principle of baptism.) Sister Lamb and I looked at each other and said, " We were thinking something a bit sooner. We prayed about a date and we feel confirmation from the Holy Ghost that you can make this.....we feel that you both can make February 26th." His eyes bugged out of his head for a sec then yelled, "I'll do it! I can do that!......I will pray about it and let you know." Joyce was all grins BAM! MIRACLE!!!!

Amanda and Jonathon...had a minor set back....but we're working with them. They'll get there.

Funny Story: We needed petrol, so we pulled into the local Otley station. As I filled in the expense sheet, Sister Lamb popped inside to pay.....I watched her talk with the attendant, Brother Jemel, It went on for longer than usual. Sister Lamb motioned at me through the window. It looked like she made a camera clicking gesture, so I thought.....oooooooooh pictures.....I love playing secret agent. So there I was taking all sorts of sneaky photos in the car. At one point that I trotted to the window, periscoped my inspector gadget arm about and snapped pics of the action. Then I got bored, so I waltzed in.....uggh! Smog of ickiness.....There was NOT a good feeling in that petrol station. Background of Brother Jemel, he is very very committed to Islam. He called President Lindley a few weeks ago to tell him that the Book of Mormon isn't true and how it doesn't coincide with the Bible.....hahahah yeah....President Lindley put him in his place. He spotted Sister Lamb's name tag, connected her to the Book of Mormon and proceeded to thrash her about whilst customers filtered in and out....awkward ( Don't get me wrong, when customers weren't in there, Sister Lamb definitely gave him a piece of her mind :) heh heh) I listened for about 30 seconds..... the barking was nonsensical and stupid, "Time out, my friend and I need to make another appointment. How about this, next time we get petrol, we'll have a chat, just like Sister Lamb suggested. You read the Book of Mormon and we'll read the Bible then we'll compare notes. Sound good." That seemed to resolve things....I can't be bothered with debates...all I know is that we got out of there and I got a free sprite out of it...SUCCESS.

What else did we do? We rampaged a care home and nearly tinkled our pants with all the oldies. We were invited to a "Bridge Church Non-denominational Bible Study" about the Prodigal Son that was more like a book club, analyzing the different relationships "Oh I wonder if the father was a good father when the boys were young." "Where is the mother in this situation?" etc etc. Come on, they failed to grasp the concept that the story was an analogy for our father in heaven. I dunno friends.

Finally, we saw the most breath taking sunset of my life! I wish the pictures did it justice. The lights of Bradford twinkled on the dark hills whilst the deepest colors of red, blue, and orange blazed above me in all directions!!!!!!!!!!! WOW! MIRACLE! It was so amazing, I called over some construction workers and said, "BEHOLD!!!!!!! Isn't it amazing!?!??!?!" They went back to work while I stretched my arms to the sky! WOW. How can you deny that there is a God when you see that!? I don't get it! :D Remember How I'm in England right now? Remember how I'm experiencing the craziest things ever?!??!?! How lucky am I? Thank you so much for letting me come here! Thank you so much for putting up with me :D I love you so much! I know this work is true! How could it not be? It just is....simple as that. WOW I love you!

Love always and forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White

Wharfe Valley

Mummy and Daddy

Remember how the weather here is absolutely BONKERS!!!! Today we're are experiencing "gale force winds" and Sister Lamb and I nearly got blown into traffic! I've seen more wind, rain, and snow than I have in my whole life. Everyone is talking about it being the end of the world!!!! well....with this wind....maybe it is :D hahahah

AH the exchange..... My new companion is Sister Caroline Lamb She's from Missouri, loves to play all sorts of sports. Her favorite color is black, but if she had to pick one, it'd be some sort of greenish tinge. Jello is not her favorite. She loves learning and analyzing political situations, and if she had to eat anything she'd eat shells and cheese, popcorn, and sour cream and onion crisps. She loves BYU and the Provo experience, she's studying Health education, and is excited to go back and finish her education.

:D Well at this current moment I am in Wharfe Valley! My mailing address is the mission office. I am literally down the street from it. No one knows our proper address. :D I get to spend all my micro managed time with the Assistants to the President :D lucky me. yay! My area covers 5 main little villages Darlington, Ilkley, Menston, Otley, and Yeadon. The tiniest little streets you've ever seen ever! hahahah barely enough room for one car...let alone two. :D I have a car, a nice little house, heating that works properly. I'm near the mission office for supplies and the mission home for meals/ firesides, AND the branch is AMAZING!!!! People welcomed me with open arms and sloppy old lady smooches :D heh heh AND they kept asking me if I needed any help with any investigators... it's nice that I don't have to pull nails for that :D Everyone I talk to tells me that Wharfe Valley is "Mission Heaven" heh heh that's what I'm talking about!

We experienced some miracles this week! We met with this couple, Joyce and Mick....husband and wife for seventeen years. Mick is massively tatooed. He has a little space that his eyes peer through all the ink! :D He's been through a lot! he has major depression issues....both of them do really....Joyce has a tumor on her face and never wants to get out of bed, but they are both the sweetest people ever. They protect each other and they feel like they're at a turning point in their lives. They've been invited to church MULTIPLE times, but never came because they were afraid that people would judge them. I met them this week and we had an amazing lesson with them. The atmosphere was different and Mick bawled through the whole thing, saying," I feel this love around me...it's weird...it's different than I've ever felt before!" BAM! MIRACLE! They came to fast and testimony meeting! BAM! MIRACLE! AND they both cried through the whole thing! BAM! MIRACLE!

We have some amazing investigators, Amanda and John. Their 10 year old son Tyler got baptized last week and his parents are following in his footsteps! Amanda and John prayed for help with the word of wisdom and John says, " it's like I never had a drink before in my life! no withdrawls! nothing!" BAM! MIRACLE! NEXT! they came to the mission home fireside!!!! I've never been able to go to one of those before!!!!1 Cake plus the spirit....what is better than that ay? I spent all my time shoved on the stairs...too many people crammed into that little house....and this toddler kept going up and down...up and down...up and down said stairs....BOY! PARK IT! HAHAHAH.
oooh got to go! i love you so much! thanks for everything xoxoxo

your Sister White

Worksop January 2011

Mummy and Daddy,

What a week! We've had some big things happen....Some of which I'll have to let the photos describe.

However, I do have to tell you about a few things in as much detail as I can pound out in fifteen minutes.

Glen's baptism!!!!! WHOO!!!! GOOFY GLEN JOHN MORRISON OF THE SCOTTISH MORRISON CLAN GOT BAPTIZED!!! WHOO! Oh bless, it was such a good night. We went to fetch him and he was all prepped with his "supplies" (dry pants, change of clothes, towel etc...) and we trotted over to the chapel. We got him all situated, took photos, and waited for all the guests to arrive. He stood in the corner, fully starched, knees knocking about. Finally it came time for the baptism to take place. Elder James waded into the water and invited Glen to come in. Glen sloshed his way down. After five anxious minutes of figuring out facings hand holds, Elder James, raised his hand to the square. From the moment the prayer began, Glen clenched his nose closed like there was no tomorrow....then it was time to go under! Glen's eyes sprang open, and like a board, he was lowered into the water....eyes still dinner plates.....then.....bubbles....bubbles....more bubbles....but instead of sputtering his way up, he emerged with this grin that pushed his ears out of the way! Oh it was glorious! GLEN GOT BAPTIZED! BAM! MIRACLE! NEXT!

Transfers!!!!! Remember how I told you how it felt like my time was limited here in Worksop....well....Last Night was Transfer Call night.....AND......I am so inspired :D hahahahaha Sister Terry and I held our breath as we listened to the answer phone message from our Zone Leaders I'm going to Wharfe Valley (Leeds) with Sister Lamb (I will still have a car! BAM! MIRACLE!), and Sister Rausch (who I was in the MTC with) is coming from Wharfe Valley to Worksop to be with Sister Terry! WHoo! I don't want to go. It feels right. It feels like I'm leaving home again, but I'm glad to be leaving at the same time. Heck! I knew I'd be transferred six weeks ago when the transfer began! BAM! MIRACLE! Day one of the transfer in December I naturally packed stuff away and wrote my "good-bye" notes...I have a lot of junk...how does this happen? It was like ripping off a band-aid one leg hair at a time for six weeks! JUST RIP IT OFF ALREADY :D hahahahhah So I'll go have another party...this time in Leeds. I'll let you know my address details etc. I love how mission life is kaleidoscopic! Always Changing. Always Colorful! I love being a missionary so much! I can't even tell you how much I love it! I love how I get to watch the gospel changing peoples' lives! I love being able to ask for miracles and help make them happen! Oh wow. I love knowing that what I'm doing is true! I love how my job is the best job ever....besides rollercoaster-tester-outers....I would like to try that one out for a bit :D I know this church is true. There's no doubt in my mind! I love how it all makes sense! I love how God knows me, loves me, and is giving me all these opportunities to be better and to learn summat! I love him so much! I love you, family! Thank you for all you do for me. Thank you for the many prayers and future mail :D wink wink
... as much as I love opening the water bill.... :D Know that I think of you often! You're the best I could ever ask for.

All my love,
Always and forever
your Sister Stephanie White