Mummy and Daddy,
This is sort of a strange moment. It's hard to know what to say. How can I possibly squeeze, flop, repack, flog, organize, and zip my eighteen months of experience into one spectacular finale? It's not quite as simple as it is with my suitcases. Yet this concluding week was such a sweet one.
We saw Mark and Emma this week and had the best lesson we've ever had with them. The Spirit was there. We all expressed our love, and we invited them to read the Book of Mormon again. With glittering eyes, they accepted. We invited them to be baptized. With smiles on their faces, they accepted. The time will come for them I'm sure of it. Miracle!
We had a call on the phone and it was a self referral. She met a Sister Missionary on the bus and wanted to meet with us! MIRACLE! We taught her, Paige, and her friend, Taylor. We had a lovely appointment with them. They were open and honest, and as we taught about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration, they got so excited and as we invited them to be baptized the said, "This is something we WANT to do. We WANT this to be true so badly!" MIRACLE!
I had so many answers to prayers: spontaneous lifts when we were late, finding things that were lost, and most of all beautiful comments were made to me about the influence I had in the area and in the mission which was an answer to a most fervent prayer....Father.. Did I make a difference?. At this moment i am so happy. I'm at peace about what has happened and what will come.
I look back on my mission I think of that talk where a young man runs to California to pan for gold. He expects to find large nuggets and is quickly disillusioned with his work. He meets and old prospector with his bag bulging. The young man spits, "I want nuggets of gold like you!" The old man, with a grin in his beard opens his pouch to reveal thousands of f tiny flecks of gold. I look into my mission experience and I see all this beautiful golden moments glinting back at me. I have quite the collection and I am so very rich indeed. I look back and my heart swells with stunning appreciation and I get really tender about it all....so then I have to push things over and laugh.
The biggest blessing of my mission is my strengthened testimony and of the depth of my conviction to live the gospel. I know what I believe in. I defended it for the past 550+ days of my life. I truly witnessed miracles and tried to describe them to others. I know God lives because I've witnessed his answers and felt His comfort. I know my Savior in scriptures. When he speaks I say, "OH! That's the same guy!" I love his Atonement. I am so grateful for it. I know now how to use that Atonement in my life to improve and become better. I have such profound respect and love for the fact that we have a living prophet! I know that Church of Jesus Christ was lost and restored through a young boy who was humble enough just to ask a question. I LOVE that God loves us enough to give us the Book of Mormon as evidence of this glorious Restoration! I love commandments! They in no way hinder us! I'm so grateful for the knowledge of why I'm here or what my purpose is.
In our lesson with Paige and Taylor they both said beautiful prayers about the Book of Mormon saying...oh how we want to believe in what they're telling us," but Paige said something that really struck me:
"Heavenly Father, butterflies cannot see their own wings. They do not know of their own beauty. People are sometimes like that. Please....help them see their beauty and their influence...."
That really touched me and I hope that in my mission service I was able to lift others and help them see their potential as unique children of our Heavenly Father, and recognize their own vibrance.
This adventure has changed my life forever. I have learned so much and I'm so grateful there are so many things I have yet to learn about the gospel, my Heavenly Father, and my Savior. I truly love this mission. I can't believe it's at an end. It's weird...but it's time. I'm sad to leave these people...I just think the world of them, but I'm SO excited to see my people! I'm ready for my steak! :D AND I'm prepared for my next adventure. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for this opportunity. Thank you for letting me be here. I am changed for good.
Love Always and Forever.....for the last time.
Sister Stephanie White
PS The Stake President will have to chase me down to get my badge from me. :D
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Alnwick
Mummy and Daddy,
We had quite the week this week. We started off with a fantastic Spontaneous Sister's P-Day
at the Metrocentre Shopping Mall in Newcastle! One of our friends from Darlington, Trish, came to spend the day with us. We had a blast!
When we were out and about finding this week, we bussed our way to Alnmouth, this little holiday village by the sea. We knocked one street, descended a flight of stairs, looked to our left and saw the largest English house of all time. "Oooooh.....let's knock that!" So we Billy Goated our way up the mountain path into the back garden apparently. We turned around to look at the view....wow.....took my breath away. "Where's this front door?" Eventually we made it round the side, up the drive, and rang the doorbell.....commotion inside...key in the lock..........door creaks open. Who emerged from the darkness, you ask? All we saw was a brown robe and rope belt. Both of us stood there with our mouths open.
Er.....
"Hi we're missionaries. We saw this house up here. It's so beautiful. We couldn't help checking it out. "
Our new monk friend: "Would you like to take a look around?"
"Yes...yes we would. Thank you."
We found ourselves a house full of Franciscan Monks, who educated us on some of their beliefs and some of their experience. We asked a lot of questions.
"Well....do you have any questions for us?"
"We know quite a bit of how the Mormons began, but what do you say makes your faith unique."
"We believe in a modern day prophet......"
"More than just Joseph Smith?"
"Yes...we have one even today....we then explained the first vision of Joseph Smith, and as we explained that moment when Joseph saw the pillar of light, the Spirit filled the room!" Everyone was quiet for a moment....then we continued explaining the vision. Amazing! BAM! MIRACLE! I know they must have felt it as well.....amazing.....
Go figure....now we have some monk friends. They were great.
We also helped with the Alnwick Branch Beach Clean this week and Michael blessed the Sacrament for the second time AND delivered his first ever talk on faith, repentance and baptism...beautifully. We were so proud of him.
In other news, we came home from church to eat our left over cardboard boxes, when we had a pack of neighbors outside our door. "What in the world?!" *Ding Dong* Our neighbors frantically explained to us that all four of our tires were flat.....sure enough....each one was as flat as a pancake. One neighbor, pumped them all up for us and discovered that one of them was punctured horizontally in the side of the tire.....everyone smells foul play....we're not sure what happened. We had AA come to our rescue and we're currently getting sorted as we speak....bizarre.
I'm so grateful to be out here, and to learn about these English people. I love feeling the Spirit. I love reading the Book of Mormon. I love how all the events in that history link together beautifully...I have to end....but I love this with all my heart!
Love always and forever,
me
We had quite the week this week. We started off with a fantastic Spontaneous Sister's P-Day
at the Metrocentre Shopping Mall in Newcastle! One of our friends from Darlington, Trish, came to spend the day with us. We had a blast!
When we were out and about finding this week, we bussed our way to Alnmouth, this little holiday village by the sea. We knocked one street, descended a flight of stairs, looked to our left and saw the largest English house of all time. "Oooooh.....let's knock that!" So we Billy Goated our way up the mountain path into the back garden apparently. We turned around to look at the view....wow.....took my breath away. "Where's this front door?" Eventually we made it round the side, up the drive, and rang the doorbell.....commotion inside...key in the lock..........door creaks open. Who emerged from the darkness, you ask? All we saw was a brown robe and rope belt. Both of us stood there with our mouths open.
Er.....
"Hi we're missionaries. We saw this house up here. It's so beautiful. We couldn't help checking it out. "
Our new monk friend: "Would you like to take a look around?"
"Yes...yes we would. Thank you."
We found ourselves a house full of Franciscan Monks, who educated us on some of their beliefs and some of their experience. We asked a lot of questions.
"Well....do you have any questions for us?"
"We know quite a bit of how the Mormons began, but what do you say makes your faith unique."
"We believe in a modern day prophet......"
"More than just Joseph Smith?"
"Yes...we have one even today....we then explained the first vision of Joseph Smith, and as we explained that moment when Joseph saw the pillar of light, the Spirit filled the room!" Everyone was quiet for a moment....then we continued explaining the vision. Amazing! BAM! MIRACLE! I know they must have felt it as well.....amazing.....
Go figure....now we have some monk friends. They were great.
We also helped with the Alnwick Branch Beach Clean this week and Michael blessed the Sacrament for the second time AND delivered his first ever talk on faith, repentance and baptism...beautifully. We were so proud of him.
In other news, we came home from church to eat our left over cardboard boxes, when we had a pack of neighbors outside our door. "What in the world?!" *Ding Dong* Our neighbors frantically explained to us that all four of our tires were flat.....sure enough....each one was as flat as a pancake. One neighbor, pumped them all up for us and discovered that one of them was punctured horizontally in the side of the tire.....everyone smells foul play....we're not sure what happened. We had AA come to our rescue and we're currently getting sorted as we speak....bizarre.
I'm so grateful to be out here, and to learn about these English people. I love feeling the Spirit. I love reading the Book of Mormon. I love how all the events in that history link together beautifully...I have to end....but I love this with all my heart!
Love always and forever,
me
Monday, January 23, 2012
Alnwick
Mummy and Daddy,
This week we went on exchange with the Ashington sisters. Sister
Belliston came up here to Alnwick with Sister Hillgaard and I went
South with Sisters Lomiga and DeLucchi. We had an interesting
experience. Imagine the scene: Little town of Bedlington. There we are
street contacting up a storm....busy street....everything's
grey....wind. There I am....I look across the street and through the
swishing of passing traffic I see this man dragging two heavy trollies
behind him full of food.
"You need to talk to that man."
"I need to talk to that man!"
So I Froggered my way through traffic, launched myself over a wooden
barricade and pranced up to this man.
"Hello.....*breathe in...breathe out*.....I saw you over here and I
felt like I should talk to you.....so....here I am."
"it's funny that you should stop me, because when I lived in Camaroon,
all I heard about was this "Mormon church." From that time til now,
I've wanted to know,"What is this Mormon church? Why do I keep hearing
about it. You and your friends must come and teach me about this. I
have my shopping here, but in fifteen minutes, if you come to my home,
my wife and my children will sit and listen to you. We will give you
biscuits and a drink if you wish. This is my offer if you would like."
"Uh....yeah!"
So fifteen minutes later, we found ourselves in this man's home
inhaling biscuits and downing hot chocolate (We missed our lunch hour)
with his beautiful wife and kids. We taught them about the
Restoration and the Book of Mormon.
"The things you have shared with me are very very interesting. I have
many questions. Where can I get one of these books?"
*hand Book of Mormon over* "Our gift to you."
"Wonderful. This will be the only book I will read for relaxation,
recreation....etc....until I have read this book through. I wish I
wasn't working, for then I would be able to sit down and read this
book cover to cover in about two weeks, and I would have all my
questions listed out for you. You must come weekly until I am done.
If I pray and God reveals to me in His way that I should be a Mormon I
will be a Mormon!" BAM! MIRACLE!
After the appointment we walked outside and Sister Lomiga looked
green. "Sisters....I don't feel ok. I feel like I might throw up."
Luckily, we had a member couple coming to take us to our next
appointment. The husband, like the boy scout he is, pulled out his
consecrated oil off his key ring and gave Sister Lomiga a blessing in
the car. There's nothing that makes my heart swell than a Priesthood
holder exercising his Priesthood. It's a special thing. She stayed in
the car with his wife while the rest of us went into an appointment
with an investigator. When we came out, "Oh...it looks like someone's
been sick." Sure enough, the biscuits and hot chocolate didn't agree
with Sister Lomiga and fought back. We went home and I called Sister
Lindley I should have a frequent calling card with that lady..
"Hi Sister Lindley, how are you? It's Sister White."
"Hi Sister White....how are you feeling today?"
"Well I just wanted to report that I am alive and healthy."
"BAM! MIRACLE!" *President in the background*
"However, Sister Lomiga is not. She was sick this afternoon."
We studied scriptures, made dinner, painted our toes and examined our
tendons :D
Never a dull moment.
I'm so grateful to be able to do this. This experience and the
beautiful people I've met mean more to me than anything! I can't
imagine my life without them! Thank you so much for letting me be
here!
I love you!
Love Always and Forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
This week we went on exchange with the Ashington sisters. Sister
Belliston came up here to Alnwick with Sister Hillgaard and I went
South with Sisters Lomiga and DeLucchi. We had an interesting
experience. Imagine the scene: Little town of Bedlington. There we are
street contacting up a storm....busy street....everything's
grey....wind. There I am....I look across the street and through the
swishing of passing traffic I see this man dragging two heavy trollies
behind him full of food.
"You need to talk to that man."
"I need to talk to that man!"
So I Froggered my way through traffic, launched myself over a wooden
barricade and pranced up to this man.
"Hello.....*breathe in...breathe out*.....I saw you over here and I
felt like I should talk to you.....so....here I am."
"it's funny that you should stop me, because when I lived in Camaroon,
all I heard about was this "Mormon church." From that time til now,
I've wanted to know,"What is this Mormon church? Why do I keep hearing
about it. You and your friends must come and teach me about this. I
have my shopping here, but in fifteen minutes, if you come to my home,
my wife and my children will sit and listen to you. We will give you
biscuits and a drink if you wish. This is my offer if you would like."
"Uh....yeah!"
So fifteen minutes later, we found ourselves in this man's home
inhaling biscuits and downing hot chocolate (We missed our lunch hour)
with his beautiful wife and kids. We taught them about the
Restoration and the Book of Mormon.
"The things you have shared with me are very very interesting. I have
many questions. Where can I get one of these books?"
*hand Book of Mormon over* "Our gift to you."
"Wonderful. This will be the only book I will read for relaxation,
recreation....etc....until I have read this book through. I wish I
wasn't working, for then I would be able to sit down and read this
book cover to cover in about two weeks, and I would have all my
questions listed out for you. You must come weekly until I am done.
If I pray and God reveals to me in His way that I should be a Mormon I
will be a Mormon!" BAM! MIRACLE!
After the appointment we walked outside and Sister Lomiga looked
green. "Sisters....I don't feel ok. I feel like I might throw up."
Luckily, we had a member couple coming to take us to our next
appointment. The husband, like the boy scout he is, pulled out his
consecrated oil off his key ring and gave Sister Lomiga a blessing in
the car. There's nothing that makes my heart swell than a Priesthood
holder exercising his Priesthood. It's a special thing. She stayed in
the car with his wife while the rest of us went into an appointment
with an investigator. When we came out, "Oh...it looks like someone's
been sick." Sure enough, the biscuits and hot chocolate didn't agree
with Sister Lomiga and fought back. We went home and I called Sister
Lindley I should have a frequent calling card with that lady..
"Hi Sister Lindley, how are you? It's Sister White."
"Hi Sister White....how are you feeling today?"
"Well I just wanted to report that I am alive and healthy."
"BAM! MIRACLE!" *President in the background*
"However, Sister Lomiga is not. She was sick this afternoon."
We studied scriptures, made dinner, painted our toes and examined our
tendons :D
Never a dull moment.
I'm so grateful to be able to do this. This experience and the
beautiful people I've met mean more to me than anything! I can't
imagine my life without them! Thank you so much for letting me be
here!
I love you!
Love Always and Forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
Friday, January 20, 2012
Alnwick
Mummy and Daddy,
This week I recovered from my viral infection. MIRACLE "Sister Hillgaard! I feel good!" I got ready, went to Zone Development Meeting where I had an interview and "Departing Blessing" from President Lindley. He gave me one of the prettiest blessings I've ever heard where he talked about my relationship with my Heavenly Father and about the work I've done here in England. He blessed me with so many things and talked about future events in my life. I love that man. There was such a beautiful spirit in that room...it made my cheeks burn. On the way home....there we were trundling along when I was seized by the world's most furious heartburn. "Sister Hillgaard....lets go get some Tums. I'm gonna die." So we got some Tums....well Gaviscon. and we went home to drop off all our gear. Next thing I know I'm shaking and doubling over. "What's happening ?!" Before I know it...I'm hugging the toilet and barfing up my life....again. "Sister Hillgaard....I don't feel good anymore." I heard Sister Hillgaard in the other room on the phone..."Uh....Sister Lindley...Sister White isn't well. She's barfing like crazy." So I was ordered to stay in a bit longer.....why you ask.....because I contracted the stomach flu that is flying about the mission. :D Yes...you've guessed it....I am playing medicinal roulette. Multiple colds, flu, chest infection with possibility of pneumonia, viral infection and stomach flu. What plague will beset her today?! :D hahahha Good news though....I am yet living! I have recovered fully....for now :D story of my life...but I live!
When I recovered, we looked at the map and Sister Hillgaard read out names of villages for me. "I like Littlemill and Craster." "Those are the ones I thought you'd pick! It's a sign!" So we went on yet another scenic journey around the Northumberland countryside up to Littlemill. There are about eight homes in the whole "village." We knocked them all, and the last one we knocked on we met this man named Ben, who invited us in straight away.
"Why Littlemill?," he asked.
"Can we let you in on our little secret. Every night we pray about where we need to be and who is ready to hear what we have to say. We looked at the map and we both felt very strongly that we needed to come to Littlemill....so here we are."
"I don't know how in the world you found this place. It's not on most maps. The chief of police showed up about two months ago and said he never knew this place existed. It's weird that you come here right now. I'm at a point in my life where I want to make some major changes. I'm at a cross roads and I'm not sure what I want to do."
"Well that is no accident. God knows you. He loves you and he knows you deserve this."
We taught him about the Restoration of the Gospel and he told us he's moving to Durham for University in two days.
"Do you have missionaries down there? Is there anybody I can speak to about this and explain it. I'll be down there for months and I want to look into this." BAM! MIRACLE!
I just know there are people that God is aware of that he leads us to every day. The days that we were out, we found some really special people (I wish I had more time to explain everything). They shared some special things with us and told us they were looking for something in their lives. It amazes me how much power this Gospel has. I love how it answers questions and calms worries like nothing else can! I'm so grateful I get to have it in my life every single day! I love it! Thank you so much for letting me be out here!
Love Always and Forever,
Sister Stephanie White
This week I recovered from my viral infection. MIRACLE "Sister Hillgaard! I feel good!" I got ready, went to Zone Development Meeting where I had an interview and "Departing Blessing" from President Lindley. He gave me one of the prettiest blessings I've ever heard where he talked about my relationship with my Heavenly Father and about the work I've done here in England. He blessed me with so many things and talked about future events in my life. I love that man. There was such a beautiful spirit in that room...it made my cheeks burn. On the way home....there we were trundling along when I was seized by the world's most furious heartburn. "Sister Hillgaard....lets go get some Tums. I'm gonna die." So we got some Tums....well Gaviscon. and we went home to drop off all our gear. Next thing I know I'm shaking and doubling over. "What's happening ?!" Before I know it...I'm hugging the toilet and barfing up my life....again. "Sister Hillgaard....I don't feel good anymore." I heard Sister Hillgaard in the other room on the phone..."Uh....Sister Lindley...Sister White isn't well. She's barfing like crazy." So I was ordered to stay in a bit longer.....why you ask.....because I contracted the stomach flu that is flying about the mission. :D Yes...you've guessed it....I am playing medicinal roulette. Multiple colds, flu, chest infection with possibility of pneumonia, viral infection and stomach flu. What plague will beset her today?! :D hahahha Good news though....I am yet living! I have recovered fully....for now :D story of my life...but I live!
When I recovered, we looked at the map and Sister Hillgaard read out names of villages for me. "I like Littlemill and Craster." "Those are the ones I thought you'd pick! It's a sign!" So we went on yet another scenic journey around the Northumberland countryside up to Littlemill. There are about eight homes in the whole "village." We knocked them all, and the last one we knocked on we met this man named Ben, who invited us in straight away.
"Why Littlemill?," he asked.
"Can we let you in on our little secret. Every night we pray about where we need to be and who is ready to hear what we have to say. We looked at the map and we both felt very strongly that we needed to come to Littlemill....so here we are."
"I don't know how in the world you found this place. It's not on most maps. The chief of police showed up about two months ago and said he never knew this place existed. It's weird that you come here right now. I'm at a point in my life where I want to make some major changes. I'm at a cross roads and I'm not sure what I want to do."
"Well that is no accident. God knows you. He loves you and he knows you deserve this."
We taught him about the Restoration of the Gospel and he told us he's moving to Durham for University in two days.
"Do you have missionaries down there? Is there anybody I can speak to about this and explain it. I'll be down there for months and I want to look into this." BAM! MIRACLE!
I just know there are people that God is aware of that he leads us to every day. The days that we were out, we found some really special people (I wish I had more time to explain everything). They shared some special things with us and told us they were looking for something in their lives. It amazes me how much power this Gospel has. I love how it answers questions and calms worries like nothing else can! I'm so grateful I get to have it in my life every single day! I love it! Thank you so much for letting me be out here!
Love Always and Forever,
Sister Stephanie White
Monday, January 2, 2012
Alnwick
Mummy and Daddy,
This week....I officially died, but never fear...I am yet among the living. On Monday evening, Sister Hillgaard and I were up in Seahouses visiting some members for tea. As I coughed up my lungs all over our meal, they said to me, " Uh.....maybe you should stay inside and go to bed." We called Sister Lindley and I was ordered to see a doctor.....so we did the next day.
Doctor: How long has this been going on?
Me: Uh...I haven't really been 100% for about a month, but it got anti-nice about a week ago.
Doctor: It's good that you came in. You have a chest infection. Take these antibiotics straight away before you escalate to pneumonia. On doctor's orders, you must stay indoors and stay warm for the duration of your treatment.
Me: Yes sir....ma'am.
So that is what we did. Sister Hillgaard and I were trapped indoors for a whole week pretty much. We slept....and slept......and slept some more. When we weren't sleeping, we read scriptures....many many scriptures. When we got weary of reading, we were caged animals staring at the box springs of the upper bunk. When we weren't staring at the walls, we cleaned. When we were done cleaning.....we had to re-clean. When we were done cleaning, we tackled our moldy wall. Man, that thing is a constant war. We scrub that white washed brick down, and within minutes the mold is BACK creeping up brick by brick, pausing only occasionally to wave at us before it carries on with its journey.
On a brighter note, we had a very special delivery of my Christmas Package from home!!!!! Mother!!!!! I was THRILLED! Fret not, every little detail was appreciated and fussed over....even the little star on top! I couldn't have asked for anything better. There I was sat in the corner, yelling and dancing and coughing and spluttering! It was glorious!!!! I was so surprised at how happy the picture presents. Even if they were just the pictures...not even the promise of something material.....they still would have made me happy :D Everything was just so pretty! Thank you!!!! You know me too well :D
On Sunday, I finished my treatment, and I was determined to be well and go out and work....we saw a little miracle. We were out knocking and we met this lovely man named Bobby. We went in and he told us his life story, how he was decorated by the Queen, and some of his frustrations with his friends, and some of the things he wished he could do, then he said, "You know what...no one ever listens to me. I'm usually the one doing the listening, but the pair of you are just so easy to talk to. There's something special about you two and I have a lovely warm feeling in my heart. You've made me feel so much better about things that are going on in my life. I never get to talk to anyone about God or Jesus Christ, but with you two I can." BAM! MIRACLE! SPIRIT! We explained to him that what he was feeling was the Holy Ghost telling him that God loves him. We told him all about prayer and about Joseph Smith's prayer, and now he is preparing for baptism!!! BAM! MIRACLE! He said the loveliest prayer at the end of the lesson:
"Father in Heaven, I've met these two wonderful people. They've taught me about you and how I can get help with questions I have. Later tonight, I'm going to ask you a lot of questions. Also....Is the Book of Mormon true? Thank you. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
He was our Sunday miracle after a week of being trapped. :D Amazing. I love my job!
I love you!!!!
Thank you so much for all you do for me!
Love Always and Forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
This week....I officially died, but never fear...I am yet among the living. On Monday evening, Sister Hillgaard and I were up in Seahouses visiting some members for tea. As I coughed up my lungs all over our meal, they said to me, " Uh.....maybe you should stay inside and go to bed." We called Sister Lindley and I was ordered to see a doctor.....so we did the next day.
Doctor: How long has this been going on?
Me: Uh...I haven't really been 100% for about a month, but it got anti-nice about a week ago.
Doctor: It's good that you came in. You have a chest infection. Take these antibiotics straight away before you escalate to pneumonia. On doctor's orders, you must stay indoors and stay warm for the duration of your treatment.
Me: Yes sir....ma'am.
So that is what we did. Sister Hillgaard and I were trapped indoors for a whole week pretty much. We slept....and slept......and slept some more. When we weren't sleeping, we read scriptures....many many scriptures. When we got weary of reading, we were caged animals staring at the box springs of the upper bunk. When we weren't staring at the walls, we cleaned. When we were done cleaning.....we had to re-clean. When we were done cleaning, we tackled our moldy wall. Man, that thing is a constant war. We scrub that white washed brick down, and within minutes the mold is BACK creeping up brick by brick, pausing only occasionally to wave at us before it carries on with its journey.
On a brighter note, we had a very special delivery of my Christmas Package from home!!!!! Mother!!!!! I was THRILLED! Fret not, every little detail was appreciated and fussed over....even the little star on top! I couldn't have asked for anything better. There I was sat in the corner, yelling and dancing and coughing and spluttering! It was glorious!!!! I was so surprised at how happy the picture presents. Even if they were just the pictures...not even the promise of something material.....they still would have made me happy :D Everything was just so pretty! Thank you!!!! You know me too well :D
On Sunday, I finished my treatment, and I was determined to be well and go out and work....we saw a little miracle. We were out knocking and we met this lovely man named Bobby. We went in and he told us his life story, how he was decorated by the Queen, and some of his frustrations with his friends, and some of the things he wished he could do, then he said, "You know what...no one ever listens to me. I'm usually the one doing the listening, but the pair of you are just so easy to talk to. There's something special about you two and I have a lovely warm feeling in my heart. You've made me feel so much better about things that are going on in my life. I never get to talk to anyone about God or Jesus Christ, but with you two I can." BAM! MIRACLE! SPIRIT! We explained to him that what he was feeling was the Holy Ghost telling him that God loves him. We told him all about prayer and about Joseph Smith's prayer, and now he is preparing for baptism!!! BAM! MIRACLE! He said the loveliest prayer at the end of the lesson:
"Father in Heaven, I've met these two wonderful people. They've taught me about you and how I can get help with questions I have. Later tonight, I'm going to ask you a lot of questions. Also....Is the Book of Mormon true? Thank you. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
He was our Sunday miracle after a week of being trapped. :D Amazing. I love my job!
I love you!!!!
Thank you so much for all you do for me!
Love Always and Forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Alnwick
Mummy and Daddy,
It was so good to hear your little voices on the other end of the line!!!!!! When I talk with you, it feels like I never left. :D You all sound so good! I don't know what else to tell you that I didn't already tell you, but this week was full of food, festivities, games, fun and friendship. We had our England Leeds Mission Christmas Party at the Harrogate Army Base where we bowled, watched "It's a Wonderful Life," and received a beautiful gift of little olive wood box filled with frankincense, gold (aka pyrite) and myrrh to commemorate Christ's birth. We visited so many of the members and had such a blast with them....the pictures say it all. Christmas was wonderful this year and to top it all off, Michael Donohoe blessed the sacrament perfectly on Sunday! BAM! MIRACLE! I love being a missionary at Christmas. Everything is just a little more special and more centered on what it should be. I love you all so much and I'm so grateful to know that you're taken care of while I'm away. I'm so lucky to be doing what I'm doing! I love my Savior Jesus Christ so much! I've learned so much about him and am honored to represent him every single day.
Happy Christmas and a Very Merry New Year!
I love you so much!
Love always and forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
It was so good to hear your little voices on the other end of the line!!!!!! When I talk with you, it feels like I never left. :D You all sound so good! I don't know what else to tell you that I didn't already tell you, but this week was full of food, festivities, games, fun and friendship. We had our England Leeds Mission Christmas Party at the Harrogate Army Base where we bowled, watched "It's a Wonderful Life," and received a beautiful gift of little olive wood box filled with frankincense, gold (aka pyrite) and myrrh to commemorate Christ's birth. We visited so many of the members and had such a blast with them....the pictures say it all. Christmas was wonderful this year and to top it all off, Michael Donohoe blessed the sacrament perfectly on Sunday! BAM! MIRACLE! I love being a missionary at Christmas. Everything is just a little more special and more centered on what it should be. I love you all so much and I'm so grateful to know that you're taken care of while I'm away. I'm so lucky to be doing what I'm doing! I love my Savior Jesus Christ so much! I've learned so much about him and am honored to represent him every single day.
Happy Christmas and a Very Merry New Year!
I love you so much!
Love always and forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Alnwick
Mummy and Daddy,
This week, Michael introduced us to some of his family members. We went up to Seahouses to teach his sister. Michael looked smart in his new suit. When we knocked on his sister's door, his brother-in-law's jaw slapped against the welcome mat!
"Michael?! WOW.....I......I hardly recognize you. You're a new man."
Michael was all smiles. His sister was visiting her daughter just around the corner....so off we went, trotting towards this other house....long story short and lots of back and forths later, I witnessed a beautiful moment, Michael's sister, and his two nieces gawked at him.....speechless.
"Michael...we saw you in Alnwick last week and we had to double take. Is that Michael?! He's all smart, and clean cut. Michael...you seem different. ... you seem happy. It's so good to see you!"
Words cannot describe the pride that swelled in my little heart, or the satisfaction slapped on Michael's cheeks. Ahhhh....moments like that....yeah....that makes it all worthwhile. We had a powerful lesson with Michael's sister, where Michael bore striking testimony that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true and living church on the Earth. His sister is now preparing for baptism! MIRACLE!
It's getting pretty bitter at night in this land. We have the warmest socks in tarnation, but they are no match for the bite that attacks our fingers and toes for 9 hours each day. One night this week was particularly bad.....pins and needles that you just can't escape, no matter how many times you skip down the street or do finger exercises. I offered a silent, frantic prayer, "Heavenly Father.....I'm so cold.....It really hurts......please......please.....help me deal with it." The very next door we knocked on, this man opened saying, "Oh...how about you come round back and I'll let you in for some hot chocolate." I couldn't get inside fast enough. I was so overwhelmed with gratitude, I could have bawled myself silly right there on the spot....if I wasn't so afraid that my tears would freeze. We taught this wonderful man about the Restoration and now he too is preparing for baptism. BAM! MIRACLE! Heavenly Father always answers our prayers....even the ones that seem only important to us....even now as I'm writing this, I'm thinking...."Ugh! Stephanie, just suck it up...it's just cold. It's not that bad." In the moment it's always a bit different. Heavenly Father still answered my prayer for me. I'm so grateful.
In other news, It was Michael's birthday this week and the Alnwick Branch Christmas Social which we thoroughly enjoyed! AND My wildest dreams came true on Wednesday when my Zone Leader said to me, "Sister White...I have a lot of zone post for you in my car." He opened the boot of his car, and wrestled with the largest box I've seen in quite a while.
"Here you go!"
"That's for me?!?! Who's it from?"
"The mission."
"What!? Why?"
"It looks like it's a Braille Book of Mormon."
"IT CAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" WOW it's big!"
"You're teaching a blind person?"
"Uh....no....it's for me. :D"
I don't know why, but I feel like I have to learn how to do sign language and learn braille. Maybe I'm going to lose one or more of my senses later in life, but just think....if the lights ever go out....I'll still be able to read the scriptures! Success! :D From the moment I got it home, I whacked it open and began deciphering each little bump....I'm actually not too bad at it, by looking at it.....I can't do it with my eyes closed...yet....but just give me time. I love it! I feel the Spirit so much when I focus on each little word! Ahhhh....I love it. Anyways...The end!
I love being a missionary so much! I cannot thank you enough for letting me come how many thousands of miles to do this every day. I appreciate it all the good, the hard, the beautiful, the ugly :D I love being a missionary!
I love you so much! I hope you have the best Christmas of your lives!
Uh.....miss me terribly :D
Love Always and Forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
This week, Michael introduced us to some of his family members. We went up to Seahouses to teach his sister. Michael looked smart in his new suit. When we knocked on his sister's door, his brother-in-law's jaw slapped against the welcome mat!
"Michael?! WOW.....I......I hardly recognize you. You're a new man."
Michael was all smiles. His sister was visiting her daughter just around the corner....so off we went, trotting towards this other house....long story short and lots of back and forths later, I witnessed a beautiful moment, Michael's sister, and his two nieces gawked at him.....speechless.
"Michael...we saw you in Alnwick last week and we had to double take. Is that Michael?! He's all smart, and clean cut. Michael...you seem different. ... you seem happy. It's so good to see you!"
Words cannot describe the pride that swelled in my little heart, or the satisfaction slapped on Michael's cheeks. Ahhhh....moments like that....yeah....that makes it all worthwhile. We had a powerful lesson with Michael's sister, where Michael bore striking testimony that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true and living church on the Earth. His sister is now preparing for baptism! MIRACLE!
It's getting pretty bitter at night in this land. We have the warmest socks in tarnation, but they are no match for the bite that attacks our fingers and toes for 9 hours each day. One night this week was particularly bad.....pins and needles that you just can't escape, no matter how many times you skip down the street or do finger exercises. I offered a silent, frantic prayer, "Heavenly Father.....I'm so cold.....It really hurts......please......please.....help me deal with it." The very next door we knocked on, this man opened saying, "Oh...how about you come round back and I'll let you in for some hot chocolate." I couldn't get inside fast enough. I was so overwhelmed with gratitude, I could have bawled myself silly right there on the spot....if I wasn't so afraid that my tears would freeze. We taught this wonderful man about the Restoration and now he too is preparing for baptism. BAM! MIRACLE! Heavenly Father always answers our prayers....even the ones that seem only important to us....even now as I'm writing this, I'm thinking...."Ugh! Stephanie, just suck it up...it's just cold. It's not that bad." In the moment it's always a bit different. Heavenly Father still answered my prayer for me. I'm so grateful.
In other news, It was Michael's birthday this week and the Alnwick Branch Christmas Social which we thoroughly enjoyed! AND My wildest dreams came true on Wednesday when my Zone Leader said to me, "Sister White...I have a lot of zone post for you in my car." He opened the boot of his car, and wrestled with the largest box I've seen in quite a while.
"Here you go!"
"That's for me?!?! Who's it from?"
"The mission."
"What!? Why?"
"It looks like it's a Braille Book of Mormon."
"IT CAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" WOW it's big!"
"You're teaching a blind person?"
"Uh....no....it's for me. :D"
I don't know why, but I feel like I have to learn how to do sign language and learn braille. Maybe I'm going to lose one or more of my senses later in life, but just think....if the lights ever go out....I'll still be able to read the scriptures! Success! :D From the moment I got it home, I whacked it open and began deciphering each little bump....I'm actually not too bad at it, by looking at it.....I can't do it with my eyes closed...yet....but just give me time. I love it! I feel the Spirit so much when I focus on each little word! Ahhhh....I love it. Anyways...The end!
I love being a missionary so much! I cannot thank you enough for letting me come how many thousands of miles to do this every day. I appreciate it all the good, the hard, the beautiful, the ugly :D I love being a missionary!
I love you so much! I hope you have the best Christmas of your lives!
Uh.....miss me terribly :D
Love Always and Forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Alnwick
Mummy and Daddy,
Allow me to give you some of the highlights of our week. This Sunday Michael walked into church.....with a suit on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHoo!!!! YE-AH! MIRACLE! He looked so smart! That's not all......he also PASSED THE SACRAMENT!!!! WHOO!!!! BAM! MIRACLE NEXT! WHOO! He plopped down next to me with all smiles saying, "That wasn't so hard. I never made a mistake." We are so proud of that guy!
Did service for a less active's father. He's ancient, has some health problems, and is just generally very hard to understand. The moment went as follows:
"Will you go to the shop for me?"
"Yes. What is it you want?!"
"Bread.....white."
"Anything else?!"
"Bread."
"More bread? No...you just want bread...is that all you want?!"
"A toilet wand.....a paper toilet wand."
"You want a what?!"
"A paper toilet wand."
"You want a paper.....toilet.....wand....this is what you want? What is that? What if they don't have it?"
*puts two pounds in my hand*
Alright....so...we trot to the shop, and picked up the bread no problem.....but there is no "paper toilet wand" to be had.
"Hello, sir (shop keeper) do you happen to have a paper toilet wand?"
"Sorry?"
"Yes....a paper toilet wand. Have you ever heard of this?"
"No"
"Have you ever personally owned a product like this?"
"No"
"Have you ever sold something that fits this description in any shape or form?"
"No."
"No? Alright give me this toilet cleaner then."
We dash back to his house, because we're running a bit late for our next appointment.
"We got your bread, but they didn't have any paper toilet wands. We got you the next best thing."
"I wanted toilet paper."
"What in the hoot?! Why didn't you just say that? Toilet wand......" Hahahahhah Story of my life.
We also met this wonderful lady named Pam. She's confined to her home but does some of the funniest things. As we taught her about the Restoration, she hung on every word. When we described the moment when Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ something peculiar happened.
"In his own words, Joseph said: I saw a pillar of light, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me....."
*Her eyes, wider and wider, were glued to my face.*
"When the light rested upon me..."
*She leaned closer*
"I saw two......"
*her eyelids slammed shut!*
.........uh...........
"PAM!"
"Ahhhh! Oh.......Sorry there....I dozed off a bit." hahahha Same thing happened when we watched "The Testaments with her. There she was, all attentive, up until the most critical part when Jesus Christ shows himself to the Nephites....and off she goes snoring up a storm. "PAM!" hahaha never a dull moment in this land. If it's not funny investigators and walking drunk people home, it's surprise Hot Chocolate nights and festive headwear with the Jorgensen family, and if it's not any of those things, it usually is something to do with our car. Poor Bruce. ( Bruce is our car. He's sturdy, reliable and gadget oriented).
Our car wouldn't start this week , we sat there for ten minutes trying to rev the engine, but it wouldn't do anything.....it wouldn't make a noise....lights just shouted at us......we tried everything we could think of to get it to start......so we said a prayer, "Heavenly Father, our car won't start......we don't know how to fix it and we need to get to Shilbottle for an appointment. Please turn the car on for us and help us sort it out. Thank you. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.................Alright, Sister Hillgaard, try it again."
*Engine roars to life*
"Wow...."
BAM! MIRACLE! NEXT! I love my life! Thank you so much for letting me be here. I see so many answers to prayers every day! I'm so grateful to be a missionary!
I love you so much!
Love always and forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
Allow me to give you some of the highlights of our week. This Sunday Michael walked into church.....with a suit on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHoo!!!! YE-AH! MIRACLE! He looked so smart! That's not all......he also PASSED THE SACRAMENT!!!! WHOO!!!! BAM! MIRACLE NEXT! WHOO! He plopped down next to me with all smiles saying, "That wasn't so hard. I never made a mistake." We are so proud of that guy!
Did service for a less active's father. He's ancient, has some health problems, and is just generally very hard to understand. The moment went as follows:
"Will you go to the shop for me?"
"Yes. What is it you want?!"
"Bread.....white."
"Anything else?!"
"Bread."
"More bread? No...you just want bread...is that all you want?!"
"A toilet wand.....a paper toilet wand."
"You want a what?!"
"A paper toilet wand."
"You want a paper.....toilet.....wand....this is what you want? What is that? What if they don't have it?"
*puts two pounds in my hand*
Alright....so...we trot to the shop, and picked up the bread no problem.....but there is no "paper toilet wand" to be had.
"Hello, sir (shop keeper) do you happen to have a paper toilet wand?"
"Sorry?"
"Yes....a paper toilet wand. Have you ever heard of this?"
"No"
"Have you ever personally owned a product like this?"
"No"
"Have you ever sold something that fits this description in any shape or form?"
"No."
"No? Alright give me this toilet cleaner then."
We dash back to his house, because we're running a bit late for our next appointment.
"We got your bread, but they didn't have any paper toilet wands. We got you the next best thing."
"I wanted toilet paper."
"What in the hoot?! Why didn't you just say that? Toilet wand......" Hahahahhah Story of my life.
We also met this wonderful lady named Pam. She's confined to her home but does some of the funniest things. As we taught her about the Restoration, she hung on every word. When we described the moment when Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ something peculiar happened.
"In his own words, Joseph said: I saw a pillar of light, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me....."
*Her eyes, wider and wider, were glued to my face.*
"When the light rested upon me..."
*She leaned closer*
"I saw two......"
*her eyelids slammed shut!*
.........uh...........
"PAM!"
"Ahhhh! Oh.......Sorry there....I dozed off a bit." hahahha Same thing happened when we watched "The Testaments with her. There she was, all attentive, up until the most critical part when Jesus Christ shows himself to the Nephites....and off she goes snoring up a storm. "PAM!" hahaha never a dull moment in this land. If it's not funny investigators and walking drunk people home, it's surprise Hot Chocolate nights and festive headwear with the Jorgensen family, and if it's not any of those things, it usually is something to do with our car. Poor Bruce. ( Bruce is our car. He's sturdy, reliable and gadget oriented).
Our car wouldn't start this week , we sat there for ten minutes trying to rev the engine, but it wouldn't do anything.....it wouldn't make a noise....lights just shouted at us......we tried everything we could think of to get it to start......so we said a prayer, "Heavenly Father, our car won't start......we don't know how to fix it and we need to get to Shilbottle for an appointment. Please turn the car on for us and help us sort it out. Thank you. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.................Alright, Sister Hillgaard, try it again."
*Engine roars to life*
"Wow...."
BAM! MIRACLE! NEXT! I love my life! Thank you so much for letting me be here. I see so many answers to prayers every day! I'm so grateful to be a missionary!
I love you so much!
Love always and forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Alnwick
Mummy and Daddy,
What to tell you on this frosty December morning? I never know what to write. I always assume my life is a tv program and that you are religiously following it each and every day. I forget that you're.....not....so so you know everything I've experienced. Met a man that said he
We saw Mark and Emma this week and Mark told us,
"I'm just not feeling anything. I feel like I'm just wasting your time."
We talked about things for a bit, then asked, "Have you asked specifically if the Book of Mormon is true?"
"Well......er......no."
"That's why it's so important to ask specifically if the Book of Mormon is true. The more specific we are with our questions, the more specific our answers can be."
In the end, we left on the conclusion that they'd contact us, but we left with a feeling of hope. We knew how hard we prayed for them to get an answer and by the feeling we felt in our hearts, that beautiful warm glow, we know at some point they receive an answer. I love how that Holy Ghost works and how we have to rely on the Lord's timing he always puts us in the right place at the right time.
For instance, this week, my lips exploded. So I called Sister Lindley and said, "Sister Lindley....my lips exploded. Can I go to the doctor?" So.... we went to the doctors. Long story short and multiple prescriptions / examinations later I was summoned once again to the doctor's office. There I was, sitting in my favorite vinyl chair, when this doctor whisked back the curtain saying,
"Hello, You are.......Stephanie White....and you have something wrong with you. Oh....I have this medical student here with me....Let me look at you.....ah yes....I'm going to give you this cream *present the cream* apply it three times a day.....oh wait! I'm meant to have the student do this. Well...come here student. What's wrong with her?"
"I'm not good with skin conditions."
"Well neither am I, but you don't tell the patient that. So (speaking to me) I'm going to give this to you. Come see me if it worsens."
Me: So.....what is it?
Doctor: It's the cure.
Me: What biologically will it do to me?
Doctor: It will heal you? But don't use it too long or it will damage your skin.
Me: Well what's wrong with me?
Doctor: You've licked your lips too much.
Me: But It's up in my eye....I haven't licked my eye.
Doctor: Come see me tomorrow. Good by Stephanie White from Sandy, UT. Oh and when you do, I will look forward to sharing with you my Mormon jokes and converting you to the Baptist church.
Me: Oh well in that case, here's a website you can check out in the meantime. We'd love to share with you this Book of Mormon and how it can change your life. See you tomorrow.
I'm sure that's not what he expected by the way he just stared at us and we waved around the corner.
*The Next Day*
"Stephanie White...come into my office."
*trot trot trot*
"Stephanie, unfortunately we won't have- oh...you're lips look much improved- we won't have as much time together as I wish because we have some very sick children here today I must attend to, which is too bad because I was so looking forward to converting you to the Baptist church and telling you all my Mormon jokes, especially about that book."
"Do you know much about this book?"
"I must confess...no."
I proceeded to give him an ultra brief description of Christ's establishment of his church when he was on the Earth, the Great Apostasy, and how the Book of Mormon is the evidence that Christ's church was restored. He left with the Restoration leaflet in hand and said, "If you are ever in the area on Wednesdays at about 6pm and it's quiet, I'd love to have a cup of tea with you two and talk to you about this book."
"Do you have hot chocolate? :D"
BAM! MIRACLE!
I love this gospel so much. I love how Heavenly Father loves us so much he deemed it important enough to restore it to the Earth. I love the Book of Mormon with all my heart and I get right feisty when people belittle it. I love my job :D Thanks so much for letting me be here.
I love you so much I can't breathe.
Have the best day of your lives.
Love Always and Forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
What to tell you on this frosty December morning? I never know what to write. I always assume my life is a tv program and that you are religiously following it each and every day. I forget that you're.....not....so so you know everything I've experienced. Met a man that said he
We saw Mark and Emma this week and Mark told us,
"I'm just not feeling anything. I feel like I'm just wasting your time."
We talked about things for a bit, then asked, "Have you asked specifically if the Book of Mormon is true?"
"Well......er......no."
"That's why it's so important to ask specifically if the Book of Mormon is true. The more specific we are with our questions, the more specific our answers can be."
In the end, we left on the conclusion that they'd contact us, but we left with a feeling of hope. We knew how hard we prayed for them to get an answer and by the feeling we felt in our hearts, that beautiful warm glow, we know at some point they receive an answer. I love how that Holy Ghost works and how we have to rely on the Lord's timing he always puts us in the right place at the right time.
For instance, this week, my lips exploded. So I called Sister Lindley and said, "Sister Lindley....my lips exploded. Can I go to the doctor?" So.... we went to the doctors. Long story short and multiple prescriptions / examinations later I was summoned once again to the doctor's office. There I was, sitting in my favorite vinyl chair, when this doctor whisked back the curtain saying,
"Hello, You are.......Stephanie White....and you have something wrong with you. Oh....I have this medical student here with me....Let me look at you.....ah yes....I'm going to give you this cream *present the cream* apply it three times a day.....oh wait! I'm meant to have the student do this. Well...come here student. What's wrong with her?"
"I'm not good with skin conditions."
"Well neither am I, but you don't tell the patient that. So (speaking to me) I'm going to give this to you. Come see me if it worsens."
Me: So.....what is it?
Doctor: It's the cure.
Me: What biologically will it do to me?
Doctor: It will heal you? But don't use it too long or it will damage your skin.
Me: Well what's wrong with me?
Doctor: You've licked your lips too much.
Me: But It's up in my eye....I haven't licked my eye.
Doctor: Come see me tomorrow. Good by Stephanie White from Sandy, UT. Oh and when you do, I will look forward to sharing with you my Mormon jokes and converting you to the Baptist church.
Me: Oh well in that case, here's a website you can check out in the meantime. We'd love to share with you this Book of Mormon and how it can change your life. See you tomorrow.
I'm sure that's not what he expected by the way he just stared at us and we waved around the corner.
*The Next Day*
"Stephanie White...come into my office."
*trot trot trot*
"Stephanie, unfortunately we won't have- oh...you're lips look much improved- we won't have as much time together as I wish because we have some very sick children here today I must attend to, which is too bad because I was so looking forward to converting you to the Baptist church and telling you all my Mormon jokes, especially about that book."
"Do you know much about this book?"
"I must confess...no."
I proceeded to give him an ultra brief description of Christ's establishment of his church when he was on the Earth, the Great Apostasy, and how the Book of Mormon is the evidence that Christ's church was restored. He left with the Restoration leaflet in hand and said, "If you are ever in the area on Wednesdays at about 6pm and it's quiet, I'd love to have a cup of tea with you two and talk to you about this book."
"Do you have hot chocolate? :D"
BAM! MIRACLE!
I love this gospel so much. I love how Heavenly Father loves us so much he deemed it important enough to restore it to the Earth. I love the Book of Mormon with all my heart and I get right feisty when people belittle it. I love my job :D Thanks so much for letting me be here.
I love you so much I can't breathe.
Have the best day of your lives.
Love Always and Forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Alnwick
Mummy and Daddy,
This week was wonderful. We had our long anticipated Sisters Specialized Training where we had a fanciful Sisters Specialized Training!!!!!!! We enjoyed a night full of tea parties, hats, flower crafts, carmal popcorn balls, meals, glorious instruction, tearful testimonies, movies, fuzzy socks, photos, songs, laughter, lanterns, and hugs...many many hugs. When we all get together, I always seem to ask myself, "Is this how the Elders feel all the day long?" Must be. We talked all about the importance of love and how showing love to absolutely everyone will help us be the missionaries God needs us to be. The Spirit was so strong during the whole two days. It was everything a Sister's Training should be.
This week Sister Hillgaard and I prayed about a street we needed to knock, felt the Spirit confirm it and we started knocking. We knocked on one door and this young father looked at us like we had horns or something. "You don't know us...but we' are missionaries."
"Actually.....I do know you."
*WHAT?!?!?*
"Do you remember that one night when there was a torential downpour? You met me as I was headed home from the hospital. My wife just had a baby, but we weren't sure if my wife was going to pull through."
"Ohhhhh....yeah." (.....*flash back*.......He didn't want to meet with us because things were a bit hectic at that time...obviously...so we gave him a Plan of Salvation leaflet, mormon.org, and our contact info, and watched him walk away with his young son. "Heavenly Father....can we keep them? Let us meet them again.")
*flash forward*
"Everytime things got difficult, we looked at the things you gave us, and they brought us a lot of comfort. My wife pulled through. She's just recovering now. My mother-in-law mentioned you came around and that you're meeting with her soon and I wondered if you were the same girls I met that night."
BAM! MIRACLE! NEXT! There's no other way we could have gotten in touch with this man other than Heavenly Father leading us to his door. wow.....amazing! I love my job!!!!
Thank you so much for letting me be here! I love it here so much!
love always and forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
This week was wonderful. We had our long anticipated Sisters Specialized Training where we had a fanciful Sisters Specialized Training!!!!!!! We enjoyed a night full of tea parties, hats, flower crafts, carmal popcorn balls, meals, glorious instruction, tearful testimonies, movies, fuzzy socks, photos, songs, laughter, lanterns, and hugs...many many hugs. When we all get together, I always seem to ask myself, "Is this how the Elders feel all the day long?" Must be. We talked all about the importance of love and how showing love to absolutely everyone will help us be the missionaries God needs us to be. The Spirit was so strong during the whole two days. It was everything a Sister's Training should be.
This week Sister Hillgaard and I prayed about a street we needed to knock, felt the Spirit confirm it and we started knocking. We knocked on one door and this young father looked at us like we had horns or something. "You don't know us...but we' are missionaries."
"Actually.....I do know you."
*WHAT?!?!?*
"Do you remember that one night when there was a torential downpour? You met me as I was headed home from the hospital. My wife just had a baby, but we weren't sure if my wife was going to pull through."
"Ohhhhh....yeah." (.....*flash back*.......He didn't want to meet with us because things were a bit hectic at that time...obviously...so we gave him a Plan of Salvation leaflet, mormon.org, and our contact info, and watched him walk away with his young son. "Heavenly Father....can we keep them? Let us meet them again.")
*flash forward*
"Everytime things got difficult, we looked at the things you gave us, and they brought us a lot of comfort. My wife pulled through. She's just recovering now. My mother-in-law mentioned you came around and that you're meeting with her soon and I wondered if you were the same girls I met that night."
BAM! MIRACLE! NEXT! There's no other way we could have gotten in touch with this man other than Heavenly Father leading us to his door. wow.....amazing! I love my job!!!!
Thank you so much for letting me be here! I love it here so much!
love always and forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
Monday, November 21, 2011
Alnwick
Mummy and Daddy,
This week....in a word.....kaleidoscopic. We had so many good, funny and frustrating things happen to us this week. Someone opened the flood gates and all the angry people of this land stampeded past us each day. What in the world?! I'm sad to report... it got to the point when we got snippy with some oldies and argued with the illogical who insisted on staying in what I call "the poop level"......not our proudest moments....but to make us feel better, we ate some Greggs meat pies and played "The Poop Game" where we sat on a bench, snacking away, and watched people dance around a turd in the road. I cannot describe in words the nail biting anticipation and drama that followed each step towards the poop.
".....oooh.....oooh........OOOOH!...............shoot."
"..................oooooh.....oooh.....*hold breath*........did it happen?"
"I'm not sure."
"............ooooooh....oooooooooh.......*hold breath*........ :D"
"It happened!" *celebration follows*
There was one time that was soooo close! I let out some sort of wail, forgetting that the people could actually hear me. The personal highlight for the day, when a cute old lady drove her jazzy right through it. My life is complete!!!!
"That's number eight......we have ten minutes left. Do you think we can get ten?"
"Yes!"
.....*eight minutes later*.....
"Eight seems like a pretty good number."
"Where is your faith?!?!?!? There is still time! There is still hope!"
*#9......#10* ......*Celebration follows!*
In other news, we had another lesson with Mark and Emma, and they told us they wanted to take a break to read from the Book of Mormon themselves and pray on their own to know if it's true. We're seeing them again soon, and they're sure if this is really the Church of Jesus Christ, they'll feel something by our next lesson. Needless to say, we've been praying for them to recognize their answer in every single prayer. The answer will come. I just pray they recognize it....they will.
We had a little miracle last night. We walked home from another wonderful lesson with Michael. We were tired, hungry, and ready to run indoors. When we passed this man on the street.
"Oh...you're almost home. It's getting late. Don't worry about it."
"No....you know what....I'll just say something really quick."
"Hello. You alright?....We're missionaries and we're sharing this book with people tonight."
"Oh yes...I'd be interested in that. I met two lads a few years back, and I was very interested in what they taught me. Do you have some time to meet with me? How about tomorrow. I'm not sure what I believe in and I need some direction."
"Uh....yeah!" BAM! MIRACLE! I tell you....moments like that sparkle so brightly they melt away any ugliness and poop level we had to wade through earlier in the week. Wow.......AH! Isn't it so amazing what I get to do! Uggh! I can't even handle it sometimes!!!! I love being a missionary. We've had a couple missionary farewells in our little branch. Feeling the power of their testimonies, made me remember my feelings and experiences throughout my whole mission..... this little mission means the world to me..........I am so grateful for it............ I can't talk about that anymore...I'm in public....so instead I will kick this chair over and laugh.
Sisters Specialized Training is tomorrow. We get to drive forever and a year from our little no man's land back down to Leeds to be with all our lady friends!!!! Sometimes, there are just too many Elders in this land. We need some girl time. All the Elders make fun of our "special training," but they're just jealous they're not invited to our festive tea party ;D. Hahaha
I love my life!
Thank you so much for letting me be here!
I love you so much! Have the best day of your lives!
Love always and forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
This week....in a word.....kaleidoscopic. We had so many good, funny and frustrating things happen to us this week. Someone opened the flood gates and all the angry people of this land stampeded past us each day. What in the world?! I'm sad to report... it got to the point when we got snippy with some oldies and argued with the illogical who insisted on staying in what I call "the poop level"......not our proudest moments....but to make us feel better, we ate some Greggs meat pies and played "The Poop Game" where we sat on a bench, snacking away, and watched people dance around a turd in the road. I cannot describe in words the nail biting anticipation and drama that followed each step towards the poop.
".....oooh.....oooh........OOOOH!...............shoot."
"..................oooooh.....oooh.....*hold breath*........did it happen?"
"I'm not sure."
"............ooooooh....oooooooooh.......*hold breath*........ :D"
"It happened!" *celebration follows*
There was one time that was soooo close! I let out some sort of wail, forgetting that the people could actually hear me. The personal highlight for the day, when a cute old lady drove her jazzy right through it. My life is complete!!!!
"That's number eight......we have ten minutes left. Do you think we can get ten?"
"Yes!"
.....*eight minutes later*.....
"Eight seems like a pretty good number."
"Where is your faith?!?!?!? There is still time! There is still hope!"
*#9......#10* ......*Celebration follows!*
In other news, we had another lesson with Mark and Emma, and they told us they wanted to take a break to read from the Book of Mormon themselves and pray on their own to know if it's true. We're seeing them again soon, and they're sure if this is really the Church of Jesus Christ, they'll feel something by our next lesson. Needless to say, we've been praying for them to recognize their answer in every single prayer. The answer will come. I just pray they recognize it....they will.
We had a little miracle last night. We walked home from another wonderful lesson with Michael. We were tired, hungry, and ready to run indoors. When we passed this man on the street.
"Oh...you're almost home. It's getting late. Don't worry about it."
"No....you know what....I'll just say something really quick."
"Hello. You alright?....We're missionaries and we're sharing this book with people tonight."
"Oh yes...I'd be interested in that. I met two lads a few years back, and I was very interested in what they taught me. Do you have some time to meet with me? How about tomorrow. I'm not sure what I believe in and I need some direction."
"Uh....yeah!" BAM! MIRACLE! I tell you....moments like that sparkle so brightly they melt away any ugliness and poop level we had to wade through earlier in the week. Wow.......AH! Isn't it so amazing what I get to do! Uggh! I can't even handle it sometimes!!!! I love being a missionary. We've had a couple missionary farewells in our little branch. Feeling the power of their testimonies, made me remember my feelings and experiences throughout my whole mission..... this little mission means the world to me..........I am so grateful for it............ I can't talk about that anymore...I'm in public....so instead I will kick this chair over and laugh.
Sisters Specialized Training is tomorrow. We get to drive forever and a year from our little no man's land back down to Leeds to be with all our lady friends!!!! Sometimes, there are just too many Elders in this land. We need some girl time. All the Elders make fun of our "special training," but they're just jealous they're not invited to our festive tea party ;D. Hahaha
I love my life!
Thank you so much for letting me be here!
I love you so much! Have the best day of your lives!
Love always and forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Alnwick
Mummy and Daddy,
This week we had a fantastic zone conference about the temple, and afterwards, I went on exchange to Ashington with Sister Belliston. When I came back, I got reports that Mark and Emma had questions about Eternal Marriage that weren't entirely addressed or resolved. So we decided to teach that for the next lesson. For some reason we were really nervous. We felt like this lesson was either going to make it or break it for us. We did a lot of praying about what we should teach, who we should bring etc. Things just didn't feel right. We prayed some more, tried to arrange for members to come with us. Nothing worked out. We felt really anxious about the whole thing. We didn't want to screw it up. We prayed again, got some advice from our District Leader, then suddenly, everything fell into place. We arranged for this wonderful member to come with us, and we felt better about what we planned to teach. Then we went to the appointment.
We walked in and there was tension in the air. Something happened prior to us getting there....there wasn't a very good spirit in the place when we arrived....perfect. We said a prayer, and watched some of "Between Heaven and Earth." Mark and Emma's minds were on other things....scratching, yawning, leaning forward and back, looking around....."Oh Heavenly Father, please....please make something relevant for them please." Just then....on the screen...a couple in 90's wedding garb (complete with puffy sleeves and big bangs) descended the steps of the Salt Lake Temple, and Elder Holland explained that he cannot speak of Heaven in the way we think of Heaven without his wife......or his children....."That would not be Heaven to me." Mark and Emma were still, eyes on the screen, everything was quiet, and the Spirit in that room was so lovely....and sweet. Something changed in that moment. After the movie, we talked for a bit and they asked,
"So according to you, our marriage is not eternal?"
"Yet."
They shared some very tender things with us and turns out the member we brought with us had some very very similar experiences. Who would know that? Not us. God did though. Everything worked out the way it needed to and it was such a wonderful lesson, with such a beautiful spirit. BAM! MIRACLE NEXT!
Ahh! I love my job! I love being able to kneel down at night and thank my Heavenly Father for allowing me to be a missionary......and really mean it. We are so blessed up here!!!!! We have a brand new Vauxhall Meriva with suicide doors, a brand new flat, snappy red plates, a phenomenal branch, no vacuum problems, amazing investigators, a brand new anti-junky area book, I get to sleep on a cloud every night (Our housing coordinator ordered a new mattress and instead of ordering a standard twin for me....he accidentally ordered a standard PLUS!!!! with a pillow top! :D YEAH!) AND we live in the best place in the UK (it's true...Alnwick won a contest). All these thing are wonderful blessings, but what means more to me than all these things, is that lovely warm glow that comes into my heart when I ask my Heavenly Father, "Are you proud of me?".....yeah.....I love that. Even though it's dark again at 4pm, stinkin cold, I have my annual English lip leprosy, and every morning I have to wipe down what I've dubbed "The Moldy Wall", I don't care :D because the things I'm learning, and the things I'm experiencing are so much better than I could have ever imagined! BAM! MIRACLE!
I love this!
Love Always and Forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
This week we had a fantastic zone conference about the temple, and afterwards, I went on exchange to Ashington with Sister Belliston. When I came back, I got reports that Mark and Emma had questions about Eternal Marriage that weren't entirely addressed or resolved. So we decided to teach that for the next lesson. For some reason we were really nervous. We felt like this lesson was either going to make it or break it for us. We did a lot of praying about what we should teach, who we should bring etc. Things just didn't feel right. We prayed some more, tried to arrange for members to come with us. Nothing worked out. We felt really anxious about the whole thing. We didn't want to screw it up. We prayed again, got some advice from our District Leader, then suddenly, everything fell into place. We arranged for this wonderful member to come with us, and we felt better about what we planned to teach. Then we went to the appointment.
We walked in and there was tension in the air. Something happened prior to us getting there....there wasn't a very good spirit in the place when we arrived....perfect. We said a prayer, and watched some of "Between Heaven and Earth." Mark and Emma's minds were on other things....scratching, yawning, leaning forward and back, looking around....."Oh Heavenly Father, please....please make something relevant for them please." Just then....on the screen...a couple in 90's wedding garb (complete with puffy sleeves and big bangs) descended the steps of the Salt Lake Temple, and Elder Holland explained that he cannot speak of Heaven in the way we think of Heaven without his wife......or his children....."That would not be Heaven to me." Mark and Emma were still, eyes on the screen, everything was quiet, and the Spirit in that room was so lovely....and sweet. Something changed in that moment. After the movie, we talked for a bit and they asked,
"So according to you, our marriage is not eternal?"
"Yet."
They shared some very tender things with us and turns out the member we brought with us had some very very similar experiences. Who would know that? Not us. God did though. Everything worked out the way it needed to and it was such a wonderful lesson, with such a beautiful spirit. BAM! MIRACLE NEXT!
Ahh! I love my job! I love being able to kneel down at night and thank my Heavenly Father for allowing me to be a missionary......and really mean it. We are so blessed up here!!!!! We have a brand new Vauxhall Meriva with suicide doors, a brand new flat, snappy red plates, a phenomenal branch, no vacuum problems, amazing investigators, a brand new anti-junky area book, I get to sleep on a cloud every night (Our housing coordinator ordered a new mattress and instead of ordering a standard twin for me....he accidentally ordered a standard PLUS!!!! with a pillow top! :D YEAH!) AND we live in the best place in the UK (it's true...Alnwick won a contest). All these thing are wonderful blessings, but what means more to me than all these things, is that lovely warm glow that comes into my heart when I ask my Heavenly Father, "Are you proud of me?".....yeah.....I love that. Even though it's dark again at 4pm, stinkin cold, I have my annual English lip leprosy, and every morning I have to wipe down what I've dubbed "The Moldy Wall", I don't care :D because the things I'm learning, and the things I'm experiencing are so much better than I could have ever imagined! BAM! MIRACLE!
I love this!
Love Always and Forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Alnwick
Mummy and Daddy,
Update from last week: We got the keys all sorted! I'm wearing another ensemble! AND I've had a shower!!!!!!! :D All is right in the world again.
Big news....MICHAEL RECEIVED THE PRIESTHOOD!!!!! WHOO!!!!! BAM!!! MIRACLE!!!! AND we got to be there for the ordination!!!!!!!! WHOO!!!!! That's what I'm talking about!!! He's doing so well. You should see the look on his face now. His cheeks glow. There's a change in his eyeballs. We were teaching him the other night and he said, "I know the church is true!" and he said it with this twinkle in his eye and the biggest smile on his face! Those are the moments....those are the moments that make all the whacks from old lady canes and all the eggs thrown at you worth it!!! (and yes...both of those things have happened to me....but it's worth it!!!!)
Also at church were our new investigators Mark and Emma and their stinking cute five year old daughter!!! Our miracle family!!! Let me tell you the story...I can't remember if I've told you this already or not. If so...act surprised. Sister Hillgaard and I were planning for our next day and it was just one of those nights. I was beat. I itched my eyes, without washing them beforehand.....I touch so many animals in a day.......needless to say, my eyes were weepy tomatoes...I couldn't see...I needed a little old lady to walk on my back....I had my face plastered to the crumbs....i mean...floor....my butt in the air, with one weepy tomato straining to see the map, "Let's look at it again when we're coherent in the morning..... Ok How about this street? Ok looks good. Let's pray I can't see anymore." We prayed about it the next morning, went there late that night, and the last door we knocked on we found Mark. I forget what we said, but I remember the look he had on his face...and I won't even try to describe it because I won't be able to do it justice, but he was looking off in the distance and really soaking in what we were saying.
"We know it's late right now, but when's a good time we can come back and talk with you?"
"Yes...can you come back tomorrow?"
"Uh...hello?!?! YES!"
So we went back, and taught him and his wife Emma. Mark hasn't believed in God his whole life; however, he noticed an inner peace with people, like Emma, who had a faith. Things lately have happened in his life that make him toy with the notion that there really is a God, and he wants to find out for himself.
"I'm open to experiment. I'm willing to see what this might do for me. I'm willing to learn."
BAM! MIRACLE!!!! AND Emma is 100% supportive. There was one tender moment when Mark expressed the concern to Emma if there really is a God would God forgive him for turning his back on him for 35 years? "In a second!"said Emma "in a second!" *tears bubbled up in her eyes, "I've waited for 18 long years for Mark to believe in God and now my prayers are coming true!" BAM! MIRACLE! It's so wonderful to watch them get closer together as they both get closer to God.
I love my job!!!
Thank you so much for letting me be here!!!!
Love Always and Forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
Update from last week: We got the keys all sorted! I'm wearing another ensemble! AND I've had a shower!!!!!!! :D All is right in the world again.
Big news....MICHAEL RECEIVED THE PRIESTHOOD!!!!! WHOO!!!!! BAM!!! MIRACLE!!!! AND we got to be there for the ordination!!!!!!!! WHOO!!!!! That's what I'm talking about!!! He's doing so well. You should see the look on his face now. His cheeks glow. There's a change in his eyeballs. We were teaching him the other night and he said, "I know the church is true!" and he said it with this twinkle in his eye and the biggest smile on his face! Those are the moments....those are the moments that make all the whacks from old lady canes and all the eggs thrown at you worth it!!! (and yes...both of those things have happened to me....but it's worth it!!!!)
Also at church were our new investigators Mark and Emma and their stinking cute five year old daughter!!! Our miracle family!!! Let me tell you the story...I can't remember if I've told you this already or not. If so...act surprised. Sister Hillgaard and I were planning for our next day and it was just one of those nights. I was beat. I itched my eyes, without washing them beforehand.....I touch so many animals in a day.......needless to say, my eyes were weepy tomatoes...I couldn't see...I needed a little old lady to walk on my back....I had my face plastered to the crumbs....i mean...floor....my butt in the air, with one weepy tomato straining to see the map, "Let's look at it again when we're coherent in the morning..... Ok How about this street? Ok looks good. Let's pray I can't see anymore." We prayed about it the next morning, went there late that night, and the last door we knocked on we found Mark. I forget what we said, but I remember the look he had on his face...and I won't even try to describe it because I won't be able to do it justice, but he was looking off in the distance and really soaking in what we were saying.
"We know it's late right now, but when's a good time we can come back and talk with you?"
"Yes...can you come back tomorrow?"
"Uh...hello?!?! YES!"
So we went back, and taught him and his wife Emma. Mark hasn't believed in God his whole life; however, he noticed an inner peace with people, like Emma, who had a faith. Things lately have happened in his life that make him toy with the notion that there really is a God, and he wants to find out for himself.
"I'm open to experiment. I'm willing to see what this might do for me. I'm willing to learn."
BAM! MIRACLE!!!! AND Emma is 100% supportive. There was one tender moment when Mark expressed the concern to Emma if there really is a God would God forgive him for turning his back on him for 35 years? "In a second!"said Emma "in a second!" *tears bubbled up in her eyes, "I've waited for 18 long years for Mark to believe in God and now my prayers are coming true!" BAM! MIRACLE! It's so wonderful to watch them get closer together as they both get closer to God.
I love my job!!!
Thank you so much for letting me be here!!!!
Love Always and Forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Alnwick
Mummy and Daddy,
We had such and interesting week this week. First off....Miracle Michael got baptized!!!!!!!!!!!! WHOO! BAM! MIRACLE! The baptism was wonderful! So many people came out to support him! He went under the water once....no problem. He bore a beautiful testimony! Sister Hillgaard and I sang "I am a Child of God" In Danish...look at that. The night was all well and good. Then we walked out into the darkness, walked up to the car, and Sister Hillgaard searched....and rifled....and rummaged......"Uh...Sister....do you have the car keys?" "No........" So we prayed mightily, dumped everything out. Literally turned everything inside out, scoured the countryside. rampaged the chapel.....multiple times.....looked out in stagnant water grates......you name it...we did it. They disappeared. We had to leave our car (believing that perhaps we locked our keys in the boot somehow), stay at the Loynes for the evening. After church yesterday we made our way back down to Ashington chapel, waited for the AA man to arrive, who opened our car....but....no keys in the boot. This does not make my day. anyways....we had to stay the night with the Ashington sisters. After multiple telephone calls, answering the same questions, several rebukings....the situation will be resolved today. YAY! :D AN ADVENTURE FOR THE WEEKEND!!!!
As far as Halloween goes. We're meant to be in Newcastle for Zone P-day carving pumpkins. It's not safe for us to go proselyting in the dark so we have to arrange to be in lessons with people. Heaven help us if people flog :D hahahha. It'll be good. I'm looking forward to wearing the same ensemble for the 4th day in a row :D yes!!!! Happy Halloween! hahahahah
In other news. We felt so impressed to knock in a posh part of town. We knocked on this beautiful door, and this wall of a man filled the doorway. Turns out he's one of the richest men in Alnwick. He owns his own brewery. He is sick and tired living that kind of life. He says he doesn't know himself. He doesn't have a reason to live. He wants to turn things around. We prayed with him. After the prayer he said, "WHoah! What was that!? For the first time in my whole life, I've felt peaceful!" He says the only thing preventing him from diving head first into the baptismal font is the fact that he's so famous in this little town. HAHAHH definitely a concern we've never had to deal with before. BAM! MIRACLE!
I love being out here with all the twists and turns. I love the Spirit! I love the way we can feel that beautiful warm glow when we testify of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His Gospel. I love being a missionary! Thank you so much for letting me be here!
Love always and forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
We had such and interesting week this week. First off....Miracle Michael got baptized!!!!!!!!!!!! WHOO! BAM! MIRACLE! The baptism was wonderful! So many people came out to support him! He went under the water once....no problem. He bore a beautiful testimony! Sister Hillgaard and I sang "I am a Child of God" In Danish...look at that. The night was all well and good. Then we walked out into the darkness, walked up to the car, and Sister Hillgaard searched....and rifled....and rummaged......"Uh...Sister....do you have the car keys?" "No........" So we prayed mightily, dumped everything out. Literally turned everything inside out, scoured the countryside. rampaged the chapel.....multiple times.....looked out in stagnant water grates......you name it...we did it. They disappeared. We had to leave our car (believing that perhaps we locked our keys in the boot somehow), stay at the Loynes for the evening. After church yesterday we made our way back down to Ashington chapel, waited for the AA man to arrive, who opened our car....but....no keys in the boot. This does not make my day. anyways....we had to stay the night with the Ashington sisters. After multiple telephone calls, answering the same questions, several rebukings....the situation will be resolved today. YAY! :D AN ADVENTURE FOR THE WEEKEND!!!!
As far as Halloween goes. We're meant to be in Newcastle for Zone P-day carving pumpkins. It's not safe for us to go proselyting in the dark so we have to arrange to be in lessons with people. Heaven help us if people flog :D hahahha. It'll be good. I'm looking forward to wearing the same ensemble for the 4th day in a row :D yes!!!! Happy Halloween! hahahahah
In other news. We felt so impressed to knock in a posh part of town. We knocked on this beautiful door, and this wall of a man filled the doorway. Turns out he's one of the richest men in Alnwick. He owns his own brewery. He is sick and tired living that kind of life. He says he doesn't know himself. He doesn't have a reason to live. He wants to turn things around. We prayed with him. After the prayer he said, "WHoah! What was that!? For the first time in my whole life, I've felt peaceful!" He says the only thing preventing him from diving head first into the baptismal font is the fact that he's so famous in this little town. HAHAHH definitely a concern we've never had to deal with before. BAM! MIRACLE!
I love being out here with all the twists and turns. I love the Spirit! I love the way we can feel that beautiful warm glow when we testify of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His Gospel. I love being a missionary! Thank you so much for letting me be here!
Love always and forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Alnwick
Mummy and Daddy,
We've had quite the whirlwind week this week. We've been preparing Michael for his baptism on Saturday. Sister Hillgaard and I have acted as his social secretaries, carting him off to tea appointments, branch activities, movie nights etc. On Saturday, we went to Ashington to watch a baptism and have Michael's baptismal interview with our District Leader. The only hiccup was the baptism did not happen. The young man getting baptized was hauled away by his concerned cousin who came out of the woodwork for the day to poop on our dreams. We showed up for the aftermath. The sister missionaries, my friends, were beside themselves. It was the saddest thing. This guy wanted to get baptized so badly! Good news is Michael passed his interview with flying colors, and came out saying, "I really want to be washed clean of my sins. My goal in life is to stand before God with a clear conscience, and enter his kingdom." I tell you this man is so wonderful.
When we rounded the corner yesterday morning to pick him up for church we saw a note taped to his door and a plastic carrier bag outside.
No...no...no....no.....no.... *running*.....no no no no.....*gate squeaks open*....no no no no no...... In the note he expressed some concerns, a change of heart, and said that he went for a walk. I do not know how long Sister Hillgaard and I stood in front of that door. It felt like ten minutes.....in silence....reading and re-reading his note.
"What should we do? "
"No clue...let's say a prayer."
In our prayer we prayed for a miracle. We didn't know where Michael was, but we needed to find him."
We waited about some more.
"Should we leave? We're going to be late for church."
"........not yet.......let's leave him a note."
As soon as I stuffed the note in the letter box, keys rattled in the lock and Michael filled the doorway.
"I just got in from my walk."
"Can we come in for a minute and talk to you?"
*nod*
BAM! MIRACLE! NEXT! We talked for a long time about his concerns, and in the end we resolved him. "Do you believe the church is really The Church of Jesus Christ restored?"
"Yes, I believe that."
"Do you want us to push your baptism back a week to give you more time to pray about it?"
"No, I believe it... I want to go through with the baptism this Saturday." BAM! MIRACLE!!!!
Our prayer was answered! BAM! MIRACLE! I love this job :D Thank you so much for letting me be here. I really appreciate it. I wonder if you realize how much this mission means to me. Thank you so much!
I love you!
Love always and forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
We've had quite the whirlwind week this week. We've been preparing Michael for his baptism on Saturday. Sister Hillgaard and I have acted as his social secretaries, carting him off to tea appointments, branch activities, movie nights etc. On Saturday, we went to Ashington to watch a baptism and have Michael's baptismal interview with our District Leader. The only hiccup was the baptism did not happen. The young man getting baptized was hauled away by his concerned cousin who came out of the woodwork for the day to poop on our dreams. We showed up for the aftermath. The sister missionaries, my friends, were beside themselves. It was the saddest thing. This guy wanted to get baptized so badly! Good news is Michael passed his interview with flying colors, and came out saying, "I really want to be washed clean of my sins. My goal in life is to stand before God with a clear conscience, and enter his kingdom." I tell you this man is so wonderful.
When we rounded the corner yesterday morning to pick him up for church we saw a note taped to his door and a plastic carrier bag outside.
No...no...no....no.....no.... *running*.....no no no no.....*gate squeaks open*....no no no no no...... In the note he expressed some concerns, a change of heart, and said that he went for a walk. I do not know how long Sister Hillgaard and I stood in front of that door. It felt like ten minutes.....in silence....reading and re-reading his note.
"What should we do? "
"No clue...let's say a prayer."
In our prayer we prayed for a miracle. We didn't know where Michael was, but we needed to find him."
We waited about some more.
"Should we leave? We're going to be late for church."
"........not yet.......let's leave him a note."
As soon as I stuffed the note in the letter box, keys rattled in the lock and Michael filled the doorway.
"I just got in from my walk."
"Can we come in for a minute and talk to you?"
*nod*
BAM! MIRACLE! NEXT! We talked for a long time about his concerns, and in the end we resolved him. "Do you believe the church is really The Church of Jesus Christ restored?"
"Yes, I believe that."
"Do you want us to push your baptism back a week to give you more time to pray about it?"
"No, I believe it... I want to go through with the baptism this Saturday." BAM! MIRACLE!!!!
Our prayer was answered! BAM! MIRACLE! I love this job :D Thank you so much for letting me be here. I really appreciate it. I wonder if you realize how much this mission means to me. Thank you so much!
I love you!
Love always and forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Alnwick
Mummy and Daddy
I love it in this little land of Alnwick. The members are absolutely fantastic! They all are so excited to have us in their little branch. Our little flat is so cute. It's all secluded in this little yard. There aren't any street lights blaring into our little courtyard. On a night, Sister Hillgaard and I plop down on the ground and marvel at all the billions of glittering specs in the sky.....wow.....how can you not look at that and think there's more out there.....how can you look at that and not believe in a Supreme Creator! Wow.... We love our little flat. We've been having movers and boxes and all sorts in and out of this joint, but things are finally starting to settle down and we're getting things into their proper places. I'll show you when we're all settled. The people of Alnwick are wonderful. It's refreshing to walk down the street, wave at someone and not get sworn at :D ahhhhhh......it's even better to not have to chase down little oldies in their mobility scooters. Man, they can definitely kick it up a notch when they want to :D hahaha.
We're just having so many little miracles happen in our corner. We met Michael last week and he's soaking it all in. We give our investigators little calendars to help them keep track of all their reading, praying and church attendance. At our last appointment with Michael, I accidentally keiffed his calendar. When we had our next appointment, I told him I had it, and he said, "Not that I blame you for taking it.....I haven't been reading as much as I should, and I have so many things wrong in my life, I'm not worthy to have it anymore." He's such a stinkin sweet heart. He just wants the blessing of baptism so much. He wants a clean slate and a new life. He came to stake conference for the reorganization of the Sunderland England Stake, where he got to hear from Elder Causse of the Area Presidency and from President Lindley. He was so impressed and so inspired! Michael is incredible! BAM! MIRACLE!
Let me tell you a story. Last night, we went to a street we planned to knock. Before we even got out of the car, a member called us telling us he had some stuff for our flat he wanted to drop off. So we motored back, parked....but no member yet.....so we decided to knock the street on which we live. As part of Stake Conference, Elder Causse said something to the effect of, "The Lord knows these people, and he loves them enough to lead you to them." For some reason that idea stuck with me, and I thought a lot about it for the rest of the day. When we knocked on one door, I had that thought come to be again. "The Lord knows these people, and he loves them enough to lead you to them." The door opened. I can't for the life of me tell you what was said, but I do remember watching the man's eye's well up and his voice shake out, "Well....I'm not so sure....my wife died five years ago." A few moments later our member rolled up behind us.
"Can we come back in a half hour and talk to you some more?"
"Yes. Come back then."
Once we sorted things out with the member, we went back, and knocked on the door.
..............
*knocked louder*
..............
*knocked on the window*
.............
*knocked with the door knocker*
..............
*knocked with rhythm and beat*
..............
*whistled through the key hole*
..............
"Dang it....he was a good one!"
So we went back to the street we planned to knock, but it just didn't feel right. We knocked some houses.....turns out the Jehovah's Witnesses had been there earlier. We prayed, "Should we stay or go to another street?."...........We didn't feel anything in particular, so we carried on........but it still didn't feel right. We prayed, "We don't know where we need to be right now, but we feel like it's not here. Where should we be?" "Let's go back to that man's house." So we did. We knocked really hard with the door knocker and lo and behold, he answered!!! AND invited us in straight away. We got to talking. He had some excellent questions about the Plan of Salvation, and about our church. There was such a lovely spirit in that room. We invited him to be baptized and he accepted!!!!! He lost his leg a few years ago and after an exhilarating discussion about leg attachments (roller skate leg, pogo stick leg, broom leg, mop and bucket leg, the list went on and on....we all know of my love for amputees!!!!!) he told us he's getting a swimming leg (aka a leg that floats) in the next week or so. IT'S A SIGN!!!!!!!! See! You're meant to get baptized! He was absolutely wonderful! In his closing prayer he said, "Heavenly Father, thank you for sending these.....[choked up]..... two crazy women to my house. It's not an accident they're here. They're coming back soon, and we'll see what more we can't learn about you then....."
BAM! MIRACLE! NEXT!!!! I love being a missionary!!!! Thank you so much for letting me be here!
Love always and forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
I love it in this little land of Alnwick. The members are absolutely fantastic! They all are so excited to have us in their little branch. Our little flat is so cute. It's all secluded in this little yard. There aren't any street lights blaring into our little courtyard. On a night, Sister Hillgaard and I plop down on the ground and marvel at all the billions of glittering specs in the sky.....wow.....how can you not look at that and think there's more out there.....how can you look at that and not believe in a Supreme Creator! Wow.... We love our little flat. We've been having movers and boxes and all sorts in and out of this joint, but things are finally starting to settle down and we're getting things into their proper places. I'll show you when we're all settled. The people of Alnwick are wonderful. It's refreshing to walk down the street, wave at someone and not get sworn at :D ahhhhhh......it's even better to not have to chase down little oldies in their mobility scooters. Man, they can definitely kick it up a notch when they want to :D hahaha.
We're just having so many little miracles happen in our corner. We met Michael last week and he's soaking it all in. We give our investigators little calendars to help them keep track of all their reading, praying and church attendance. At our last appointment with Michael, I accidentally keiffed his calendar. When we had our next appointment, I told him I had it, and he said, "Not that I blame you for taking it.....I haven't been reading as much as I should, and I have so many things wrong in my life, I'm not worthy to have it anymore." He's such a stinkin sweet heart. He just wants the blessing of baptism so much. He wants a clean slate and a new life. He came to stake conference for the reorganization of the Sunderland England Stake, where he got to hear from Elder Causse of the Area Presidency and from President Lindley. He was so impressed and so inspired! Michael is incredible! BAM! MIRACLE!
Let me tell you a story. Last night, we went to a street we planned to knock. Before we even got out of the car, a member called us telling us he had some stuff for our flat he wanted to drop off. So we motored back, parked....but no member yet.....so we decided to knock the street on which we live. As part of Stake Conference, Elder Causse said something to the effect of, "The Lord knows these people, and he loves them enough to lead you to them." For some reason that idea stuck with me, and I thought a lot about it for the rest of the day. When we knocked on one door, I had that thought come to be again. "The Lord knows these people, and he loves them enough to lead you to them." The door opened. I can't for the life of me tell you what was said, but I do remember watching the man's eye's well up and his voice shake out, "Well....I'm not so sure....my wife died five years ago." A few moments later our member rolled up behind us.
"Can we come back in a half hour and talk to you some more?"
"Yes. Come back then."
Once we sorted things out with the member, we went back, and knocked on the door.
..............
*knocked louder*
..............
*knocked on the window*
.............
*knocked with the door knocker*
..............
*knocked with rhythm and beat*
..............
*whistled through the key hole*
..............
"Dang it....he was a good one!"
So we went back to the street we planned to knock, but it just didn't feel right. We knocked some houses.....turns out the Jehovah's Witnesses had been there earlier. We prayed, "Should we stay or go to another street?."...........We didn't feel anything in particular, so we carried on........but it still didn't feel right. We prayed, "We don't know where we need to be right now, but we feel like it's not here. Where should we be?" "Let's go back to that man's house." So we did. We knocked really hard with the door knocker and lo and behold, he answered!!! AND invited us in straight away. We got to talking. He had some excellent questions about the Plan of Salvation, and about our church. There was such a lovely spirit in that room. We invited him to be baptized and he accepted!!!!! He lost his leg a few years ago and after an exhilarating discussion about leg attachments (roller skate leg, pogo stick leg, broom leg, mop and bucket leg, the list went on and on....we all know of my love for amputees!!!!!) he told us he's getting a swimming leg (aka a leg that floats) in the next week or so. IT'S A SIGN!!!!!!!! See! You're meant to get baptized! He was absolutely wonderful! In his closing prayer he said, "Heavenly Father, thank you for sending these.....[choked up]..... two crazy women to my house. It's not an accident they're here. They're coming back soon, and we'll see what more we can't learn about you then....."
BAM! MIRACLE! NEXT!!!! I love being a missionary!!!! Thank you so much for letting me be here!
Love always and forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
Monday, October 10, 2011
Alnwick
Mummy and Daddy,
Where to begin? Well....Alnwick area covers basically 1/8th of England! It's mostly just green....not a lot of people up yonder, so we stole another missionary team's car :D heh heh they weren't too keen on that, bless 'em. After transfer meeting, we made our way on the coach up to Redcar, stole their car, and Sister Hillgaard drove us all the way up to Alnwick. A bit about Sister Gretel Hillgaard. She is from Denmark. She's been on her mission for 5 months and she loves dragons. She can name every Pokemon every made. She wishes she was an Avatar so much that she brought a pair of Avatar fangs along on her mission to pop in when she gets and urge. She makes the best impression of a guinea pig of anyone I've ever seen and her favorite food is liver pate. She's a driving fiend in Denmark, but she's never driven on the left hand side of the road. Since I'm American, my US license is only valid for a year, so I cannot legally drive anymore. So our only option was to have Sister Hillgaard drive us up there. :D We made it in one piece. We drifted now and again to the left and played tag with the curb. I suppose our game went on a bit too long because suddenly in the side mirrors, blue lights glitter in my eyes......oh......poop.
Us: Hello Officer, How are you today, Sir?
Police Man: Fine. When was the last time you had an alcoholic beverage?
Us: HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA what?!
Police Man: We got a report from a fellow driver that was concerned that you were under the influence of alcohol, and for the safety of everyone on the road we've come to investigate.
Us: No... we're just foreign.
That is a definite first.....Two LDS missionaries getting pulled over for drunk driving! hahahha
We're staying with Brother and Sister Loynes who are absolutely wonderful, and the Branch is fantastic!!! They've made us very welcome indeed!!!! Everyone is so excited to have us out and about and they're bending over backwards to get anything we need!
Alnwick town is like the quintessential England. When you think, "small English town", the picture that comes up in your head....THAT'S WHERE I LIVE!!!! I walk down the spindly cobbled streets, look up at the big clock towers and quaint shops and say to myself....ahhhh....I love this land. I love where I live
We went out knocking our first day and found this man named Michael!!!! He is a miracle man! He wanted to know what Heaven and Hell were. We taught him straight away, scheduled him for baptism, he came to church and he absolutely loved it!!!!!
We're moving tomorrow to our brand new flat.
I absolutely love it here in this land! People don't curse at me every five seconds! People actually listen to me on the street whether they're interested or not! The branch is beautiful! The land is beautiful! I live next to a castle for Pete's sake!
My time's out but I love it here! I love being a missionary!
Love always and forever,
Sister Stephanie White
Where to begin? Well....Alnwick area covers basically 1/8th of England! It's mostly just green....not a lot of people up yonder, so we stole another missionary team's car :D heh heh they weren't too keen on that, bless 'em. After transfer meeting, we made our way on the coach up to Redcar, stole their car, and Sister Hillgaard drove us all the way up to Alnwick. A bit about Sister Gretel Hillgaard. She is from Denmark. She's been on her mission for 5 months and she loves dragons. She can name every Pokemon every made. She wishes she was an Avatar so much that she brought a pair of Avatar fangs along on her mission to pop in when she gets and urge. She makes the best impression of a guinea pig of anyone I've ever seen and her favorite food is liver pate. She's a driving fiend in Denmark, but she's never driven on the left hand side of the road. Since I'm American, my US license is only valid for a year, so I cannot legally drive anymore. So our only option was to have Sister Hillgaard drive us up there. :D We made it in one piece. We drifted now and again to the left and played tag with the curb. I suppose our game went on a bit too long because suddenly in the side mirrors, blue lights glitter in my eyes......oh......poop.
Us: Hello Officer, How are you today, Sir?
Police Man: Fine. When was the last time you had an alcoholic beverage?
Us: HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA what?!
Police Man: We got a report from a fellow driver that was concerned that you were under the influence of alcohol, and for the safety of everyone on the road we've come to investigate.
Us: No... we're just foreign.
That is a definite first.....Two LDS missionaries getting pulled over for drunk driving! hahahha
We're staying with Brother and Sister Loynes who are absolutely wonderful, and the Branch is fantastic!!! They've made us very welcome indeed!!!! Everyone is so excited to have us out and about and they're bending over backwards to get anything we need!
Alnwick town is like the quintessential England. When you think, "small English town", the picture that comes up in your head....THAT'S WHERE I LIVE!!!! I walk down the spindly cobbled streets, look up at the big clock towers and quaint shops and say to myself....ahhhh....I love this land. I love where I live
We went out knocking our first day and found this man named Michael!!!! He is a miracle man! He wanted to know what Heaven and Hell were. We taught him straight away, scheduled him for baptism, he came to church and he absolutely loved it!!!!!
We're moving tomorrow to our brand new flat.
I absolutely love it here in this land! People don't curse at me every five seconds! People actually listen to me on the street whether they're interested or not! The branch is beautiful! The land is beautiful! I live next to a castle for Pete's sake!
My time's out but I love it here! I love being a missionary!
Love always and forever,
Sister Stephanie White
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Horbury
Mummy and Daddy,
I suppose I shall begin with the biggest news.....I am getting transferred! Guess where I'm going.....you'll never guess...so I'll tell you. I am going to Alnwick (Annec) home of none other than the HARRY POTTER CASTLE!!!!!! WHOO!!!! I wonder if you realize what a huge deal this is within the mission :D Alnwick area is the farthest north you can possibly go in the England Leeds Mission, (I'm going just in time for winter :D) and it hasn't had missionaries for two years. So me and SISTER HILLGARDE are WHITE WASHING!!!!!! Whoo! We're getting a brand new flat and a car! I can't legally drive anymore on my American license so Sister Hillgarde will get to chauffeur me about :D I hear the branch is wonderful and they sound quite Scottish! WHOO!!!!!! It will be an adventure....that is....if I don't turn into a human popsicle by the end of it :D More to come. I've spent my morning packing.....I have so much stuff.....a lot of it I can't afford to chuck. I need as many layers as I can get my silly little hands on! As usual, while my companion is eating breakfast, getting ready etc....there I am upstairs ramming my body into my suitcase. GET.... IN! GET ...IN! OOOOOOH!
This week we went to Carol, our investigator's, primary school class to teach her six and seven year olds what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believes. We taught them all about how God is the Father of our spirits. We are his children. We taught them a simplified version of the plan of salvation and showed them this video
http://lds.org/pages/mormon-messages-gallery?lang=eng#i-am-a-child-of-god-mormon-message
We taught them the song, "I Am a Child of God," and I cannot tell you how stinking cute it was to see their little mouths singing and believing they were children of God. They drew pictures of who God is, where he lives, and what he does. Then they wrote what they learned.
"God is a father."
"We are God's children."
"I am a child of God."
"Now I know God lives."
Carol came up to us afterwards saying, " I know now more than ever that what you say is true. I wish I joined years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" BAM! MIRACLE! She photocopied all their drawings for us and fashioned them into little books for us!!!!
Carol came to the Saturday Afternoon session of Conference. Long story short....*The Librarian just announced the Library's closing in seven minutes.* When it was all over, we turned to her and asked, "Well, what'd you think?"
"It was good.....It's all good." Tears welled up in her eyes "I so wish I did this years ago!" BAM! MIRACLE! NEXT!!!!!!
I am so grateful for that assurance that I know this church truly is The Church of Jesus Christ!!! No other church claims that. No other church bears his name! No other church has the same organization that Jesus had. No other church has apostles. No other church has a Prophet, but we do. I'm so grateful to be out here doing what the Lord wants me to do. This is exactly where I need to be :D
I love you so much!
Love
Your Sister Stephanie White
I suppose I shall begin with the biggest news.....I am getting transferred! Guess where I'm going.....you'll never guess...so I'll tell you. I am going to Alnwick (Annec) home of none other than the HARRY POTTER CASTLE!!!!!! WHOO!!!! I wonder if you realize what a huge deal this is within the mission :D Alnwick area is the farthest north you can possibly go in the England Leeds Mission, (I'm going just in time for winter :D) and it hasn't had missionaries for two years. So me and SISTER HILLGARDE are WHITE WASHING!!!!!! Whoo! We're getting a brand new flat and a car! I can't legally drive anymore on my American license so Sister Hillgarde will get to chauffeur me about :D I hear the branch is wonderful and they sound quite Scottish! WHOO!!!!!! It will be an adventure....that is....if I don't turn into a human popsicle by the end of it :D More to come. I've spent my morning packing.....I have so much stuff.....a lot of it I can't afford to chuck. I need as many layers as I can get my silly little hands on! As usual, while my companion is eating breakfast, getting ready etc....there I am upstairs ramming my body into my suitcase. GET.... IN! GET ...IN! OOOOOOH!
This week we went to Carol, our investigator's, primary school class to teach her six and seven year olds what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believes. We taught them all about how God is the Father of our spirits. We are his children. We taught them a simplified version of the plan of salvation and showed them this video
http://lds.org/pages/mormon-messages-gallery?lang=eng#i-am-a-child-of-god-mormon-message
We taught them the song, "I Am a Child of God," and I cannot tell you how stinking cute it was to see their little mouths singing and believing they were children of God. They drew pictures of who God is, where he lives, and what he does. Then they wrote what they learned.
"God is a father."
"We are God's children."
"I am a child of God."
"Now I know God lives."
Carol came up to us afterwards saying, " I know now more than ever that what you say is true. I wish I joined years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" BAM! MIRACLE! She photocopied all their drawings for us and fashioned them into little books for us!!!!
Carol came to the Saturday Afternoon session of Conference. Long story short....*The Librarian just announced the Library's closing in seven minutes.* When it was all over, we turned to her and asked, "Well, what'd you think?"
"It was good.....It's all good." Tears welled up in her eyes "I so wish I did this years ago!" BAM! MIRACLE! NEXT!!!!!!
I am so grateful for that assurance that I know this church truly is The Church of Jesus Christ!!! No other church claims that. No other church bears his name! No other church has the same organization that Jesus had. No other church has apostles. No other church has a Prophet, but we do. I'm so grateful to be out here doing what the Lord wants me to do. This is exactly where I need to be :D
I love you so much!
Love
Your Sister Stephanie White
Monday, September 26, 2011
Horbury
Mummy and Daddy,
I must dash about again this week, but I had to tell you about a few things. This week we met Phyllis....who is how old?.....Guess......nope.....guess again.....You'll never guess so I'll tell you....She was 103! Hahahaha She even had the official plaque from the Queen congratulating her on her century of life AND she was on the front page of the local newspaper saying, "Phyllis Turns 100!" Oh Phyllis...she's great. She's both deaf-ish and blind-ish. We communicated by writing GIANT on a white board. Bringing the board an inch away from her nose she yelled, each word and waited for some sort of confirmation on our end.
Phyllis: DO?
*nod*
Phyllis: YOU?
*nod*
Phyllis: BELIEVE?
*nod*
Phyllis: IN?
*nod*
Phyllis: GOD? NO! BECAUSE I PRAY EVERY BLASTED NIGHT THAT I FALL ASLEEP AND I NEVER WAKE UP, AND EACH MORNING I OPEN MY EYES, LOOK AROUND AND SAY.... (I'd best not say what she said :D) YOU SEE, THERE IS NO GOD.
Us: HE WANTS YOU TO GET BAPTIZED FIRST! WILL YOU FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS CHRIST AND BE BAPTIZED BY SOMEONE WITH THE PROPER PRIESTHOOD AUTHORITY OF GOD?
Phyllis: NO! I WILL NEVER DO THAT. YOU CAN'T EVEN PAY ME TO DO THAT!
:D hahahha....well.....can't say we didn't ask.
I also got to see Mick and Joyce last Monday. Mick put his teeth in especially for the occasion :D We entered the train station and I saw them afar, and said, "Man, they are just too cute!" They are so special to me! We shook hands, we embraced, we laughed, Mick cried :D. We had just a normal, lovely natter in Greggs over a cup of hot chocolate. The whole time there was this wonderful feeling there with us. They're doing so well! Then came the time to part ways again. We took pictures, embraced, shook hands, we laughed, Mick cried :D Then Sister Sorensen and I walked away, arm in arm. In that moment, my little heart had this surge of gratitude.... I love these people so stinking much!.....even now...I'm having an issue! I'm just so grateful they are in my life. If I came on this mission of mine, and only met them.....my mission would have been worth it. All these wonderful people I've met have made such a lovely impression on me. It's hard to explain, but it's a very humbling experience to have someone thank you profusely for changing their lives. I feel like they did it all themselves. They were just ready. I'm so grateful to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to be a part of their story! I'm getting all worked up so I'll kick over this chair and laugh instead! :D ha ha.
In other news, we celebrated Sister Sorensen's 22nd birthday today! My baby's growing up! We played games with the zone, sang songs, ate Costco cake....they have Costco here believe it or not.....and build GIANT pyramid of chairs (pictures to follow in the near future). All in all....a successful day!
We have a big fireside coming up this Friday all about the Savior's life. We've invited the whole of Horbury so hopefully we'll have a good turn out.
I am so stinking excited for General Conference I can hardly handle m'self. How lucky are we that we have a prophet on Earth. UGGH! We are so dang lucky all the day long! Heavenly Father is so good to us! I wish I had a bit more time today to expound on everything, but I do want to tell you: I love being a missionary. Thank you so much for letting me be here.
Love always and forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
I must dash about again this week, but I had to tell you about a few things. This week we met Phyllis....who is how old?.....Guess......nope.....guess again.....You'll never guess so I'll tell you....She was 103! Hahahaha She even had the official plaque from the Queen congratulating her on her century of life AND she was on the front page of the local newspaper saying, "Phyllis Turns 100!" Oh Phyllis...she's great. She's both deaf-ish and blind-ish. We communicated by writing GIANT on a white board. Bringing the board an inch away from her nose she yelled, each word and waited for some sort of confirmation on our end.
Phyllis: DO?
*nod*
Phyllis: YOU?
*nod*
Phyllis: BELIEVE?
*nod*
Phyllis: IN?
*nod*
Phyllis: GOD? NO! BECAUSE I PRAY EVERY BLASTED NIGHT THAT I FALL ASLEEP AND I NEVER WAKE UP, AND EACH MORNING I OPEN MY EYES, LOOK AROUND AND SAY.... (I'd best not say what she said :D) YOU SEE, THERE IS NO GOD.
Us: HE WANTS YOU TO GET BAPTIZED FIRST! WILL YOU FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS CHRIST AND BE BAPTIZED BY SOMEONE WITH THE PROPER PRIESTHOOD AUTHORITY OF GOD?
Phyllis: NO! I WILL NEVER DO THAT. YOU CAN'T EVEN PAY ME TO DO THAT!
:D hahahha....well.....can't say we didn't ask.
I also got to see Mick and Joyce last Monday. Mick put his teeth in especially for the occasion :D We entered the train station and I saw them afar, and said, "Man, they are just too cute!" They are so special to me! We shook hands, we embraced, we laughed, Mick cried :D. We had just a normal, lovely natter in Greggs over a cup of hot chocolate. The whole time there was this wonderful feeling there with us. They're doing so well! Then came the time to part ways again. We took pictures, embraced, shook hands, we laughed, Mick cried :D Then Sister Sorensen and I walked away, arm in arm. In that moment, my little heart had this surge of gratitude.... I love these people so stinking much!.....even now...I'm having an issue! I'm just so grateful they are in my life. If I came on this mission of mine, and only met them.....my mission would have been worth it. All these wonderful people I've met have made such a lovely impression on me. It's hard to explain, but it's a very humbling experience to have someone thank you profusely for changing their lives. I feel like they did it all themselves. They were just ready. I'm so grateful to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to be a part of their story! I'm getting all worked up so I'll kick over this chair and laugh instead! :D ha ha.
In other news, we celebrated Sister Sorensen's 22nd birthday today! My baby's growing up! We played games with the zone, sang songs, ate Costco cake....they have Costco here believe it or not.....and build GIANT pyramid of chairs (pictures to follow in the near future). All in all....a successful day!
We have a big fireside coming up this Friday all about the Savior's life. We've invited the whole of Horbury so hopefully we'll have a good turn out.
I am so stinking excited for General Conference I can hardly handle m'self. How lucky are we that we have a prophet on Earth. UGGH! We are so dang lucky all the day long! Heavenly Father is so good to us! I wish I had a bit more time today to expound on everything, but I do want to tell you: I love being a missionary. Thank you so much for letting me be here.
Love always and forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Horbury
Mummy and Daddy,
Good news. Hurricane didn't blow us away. It definitely gave it a good go though. My goodness! I think I may have finally combed through my "Nest."
We had some beautiful things happen this week.
Well let me tell you about yesterday. There we were, in the foyer at church, sitting....standing.....shaking peoples' hands.....then the chapel door closed......still no Stacey and Amy. Do you remember Stacey and Amy? Amy is the seven year old we taught about the Plan of Salvation and she lapped it right up. The Spirit was so phenomenal! Stacey is her mother. When Stacy was a little girl, she believed in God, but her parents didn't really approve of that belief, so she stopped believing. She vowed if her daughter wanted to learn about God, she'd let her. Anyways...no Stacey and clan. The clocked ticked on.....still no Stacey and Clan. We went in for the Sacrament with the attitude: If it's meant to happen, it will happen. As the Sacrament was passed....I saw a flick of green out of the corner of my eye. I whipped towards the door and saw.......little girls!!!!! THEY CAME!!!! Stacy and Amy came to church!!!! AND they enjoyed it! BAM! MIRACLE!
There was a feeling around this home....we had to knock on it. "There is a good feeling about this home.....not to mention they have a pirate tree house out back! These are my kind of people!" It looked like no one was going to answer so we turned to leave. "Circle this house. We have to come back." Then the door opened and this lovely Irish lady opened. "I'm on my way out right now, but come back. You're welcome anytime!" Miracle! So we did. We went back. She let us in straightaway. Come to find out, she's recovering from cancer. She has a beautiful family and her faith is incredible! We're so excited to teach her! BAM! MIRACLE!
We met Linda and Graham this week. I don't know much about them to relate to you, but what I do know is that Linda believes in God and Graham does not. We taught them all about who God is, who Jesus Christ is, and how they restored the gospel to the Earth again. I love the Spirit, because every time I felt a *ping* Linda said, "hmmm...that's interesting. I think I can agree with that." The interesting part of the lesson was the fact that it was bright and sunny the moment before we went into their home, but the moment we were inside, it started chucking it down! AND it continued to chuck it down until the moment we said the closing prayer. "That's strange isn't it? Now that you're on your way out, the rain stopped. What a coincidence." "Coincidence? I think not. Coincidences are just when God wants to be anonymous." BAM! MIRACLE!
One evening we went to Kenneth's for a little lesson. He opened the door. "Hi Ken!" .......he just looked at us for a minute......"What's wrong?" Then he smiled.....a big toothy smile. He got teeth! "Ken! You have teeth!" He has new found confidence! It's cute. The jury's still out....I've grown accustomed to his toothless grin. We'll see :D
In other news....I got a card in the post the other day from Mick and Joyce saying they wrote a letter to President Lindley requesting to visit me....He got in touch with them and said they could!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!! MIRACLE!!!!!!!!!! I'm seeing Mick and Joyce today for lunch! What can be better than food, fun, and friendship!?!
I love being out here! I love those opportunities just to exercise faith. Isn't faith an amazing thing? You don't know what will happen, but you say I know what's meant to happen will happen. I know You're in control. I love my Heavenly Father so much! He's so good to me all the time! I know this is his work! I know the Spirit is real! I know I'm exactly where I'm meant to be. I love being where my feet are....not bugged about the past.....not worried about what's next, but just enjoying where I am. I love it here! Thank you so much for letting me be a missionary. I can't imagine my life without this experience.
I love you so much!
Have the best day of your life!
Love always and forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
Good news. Hurricane didn't blow us away. It definitely gave it a good go though. My goodness! I think I may have finally combed through my "Nest."
We had some beautiful things happen this week.
Well let me tell you about yesterday. There we were, in the foyer at church, sitting....standing.....shaking peoples' hands.....then the chapel door closed......still no Stacey and Amy. Do you remember Stacey and Amy? Amy is the seven year old we taught about the Plan of Salvation and she lapped it right up. The Spirit was so phenomenal! Stacey is her mother. When Stacy was a little girl, she believed in God, but her parents didn't really approve of that belief, so she stopped believing. She vowed if her daughter wanted to learn about God, she'd let her. Anyways...no Stacey and clan. The clocked ticked on.....still no Stacey and Clan. We went in for the Sacrament with the attitude: If it's meant to happen, it will happen. As the Sacrament was passed....I saw a flick of green out of the corner of my eye. I whipped towards the door and saw.......little girls!!!!! THEY CAME!!!! Stacy and Amy came to church!!!! AND they enjoyed it! BAM! MIRACLE!
There was a feeling around this home....we had to knock on it. "There is a good feeling about this home.....not to mention they have a pirate tree house out back! These are my kind of people!" It looked like no one was going to answer so we turned to leave. "Circle this house. We have to come back." Then the door opened and this lovely Irish lady opened. "I'm on my way out right now, but come back. You're welcome anytime!" Miracle! So we did. We went back. She let us in straightaway. Come to find out, she's recovering from cancer. She has a beautiful family and her faith is incredible! We're so excited to teach her! BAM! MIRACLE!
We met Linda and Graham this week. I don't know much about them to relate to you, but what I do know is that Linda believes in God and Graham does not. We taught them all about who God is, who Jesus Christ is, and how they restored the gospel to the Earth again. I love the Spirit, because every time I felt a *ping* Linda said, "hmmm...that's interesting. I think I can agree with that." The interesting part of the lesson was the fact that it was bright and sunny the moment before we went into their home, but the moment we were inside, it started chucking it down! AND it continued to chuck it down until the moment we said the closing prayer. "That's strange isn't it? Now that you're on your way out, the rain stopped. What a coincidence." "Coincidence? I think not. Coincidences are just when God wants to be anonymous." BAM! MIRACLE!
One evening we went to Kenneth's for a little lesson. He opened the door. "Hi Ken!" .......he just looked at us for a minute......"What's wrong?" Then he smiled.....a big toothy smile. He got teeth! "Ken! You have teeth!" He has new found confidence! It's cute. The jury's still out....I've grown accustomed to his toothless grin. We'll see :D
In other news....I got a card in the post the other day from Mick and Joyce saying they wrote a letter to President Lindley requesting to visit me....He got in touch with them and said they could!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!! MIRACLE!!!!!!!!!! I'm seeing Mick and Joyce today for lunch! What can be better than food, fun, and friendship!?!
I love being out here! I love those opportunities just to exercise faith. Isn't faith an amazing thing? You don't know what will happen, but you say I know what's meant to happen will happen. I know You're in control. I love my Heavenly Father so much! He's so good to me all the time! I know this is his work! I know the Spirit is real! I know I'm exactly where I'm meant to be. I love being where my feet are....not bugged about the past.....not worried about what's next, but just enjoying where I am. I love it here! Thank you so much for letting me be a missionary. I can't imagine my life without this experience.
I love you so much!
Have the best day of your life!
Love always and forever,
Your Sister Stephanie White
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Alnwick January 2012
Me with our Franciscan Monk friends
Alnwick January 2012
So we did....we knocked on it...and guess who we found?
Alnwick January 2012
We saw this giant house on the hill in Alnmouth and said....."Oooooh let's knock that!"
Alnwick January 2012
We share the gospel with everyone....even people that live in extra small houses!
Alnwick January 2012
Sister Hillgaard with the man from AA who came to our rescue.
Alnwick January 2012
1 of 4 tires
Alnwick January 2012
"LDS BEACH CLEAN"
Alnwick January 2012
The Alnwick Branch Beach Clean
Alnwick January 2012
This is where I live! Look at that beach!
Alnwick January 2012
Me on the beach
Alnwick January 2012
This is what I look like for morning exercise. Sister Hillgaard finds it expecially amusing :D
Alnwick January 2012
Some of us Sisters by the "What's in the Bag" statue
Alnwick January 2012
Had a Sister's P-Day at Metro Centre Shopping mall in Newcastle...I look right at home.
Alnwick January 2012
This is my face when someone tells me they've made me fresh meat pie :D
Alnwick January 2012
Welcome to Embleton...a little town near the coast. That's all there is basically.
Alnwick January 2012
Candid photo of Sister White #342
Alnwick January 2012
Candid Sister Hillgaard
Alnwick January 2012
Received this festive hat from my cousin Sarah! Shout out to Cousin Sarah! Happy Christmas.
Alnwick January 2012
Beautiful banner made by the youth of the Willow Canyon 8th Ward! It is proudly displayed!
Alnwick January 2012
After all our Gospel study, we compared tendons :D Look at Sis DeLucchi's crazy tendons! I'm going to make her tendon shields just in case one gets severed.
Alnwick January 2012
Painted toes! We feel like ladies.
Alnwick January 2012
An ill Sister Lomiga and a peppy Sister DeLucchi
Alnwick January 2012
Exchange in Ashington: Me with member Cathy
Alnwick January 2012
The Sunderland Family
Alnwick January 2012
Zone p-day playing Mafia....when I was finally discovered as the MURDERER!
Alnwick January 2012
Zone P-day where Sisters Belliston, DeLucchi and myself are attempting to stay warm in the sunlight.
Alnwick January 2012
Ronnie with his Mansized tissues. My personal favorite
Alnwick January 2012
Me with Ronnie
Alnwick January 2012
Me hugging my cold jug of milk and eyeing my Gaviscon pills for comfort.
Alnwick December 2011
More reading
Alnwick December 2011
Here is her dragon she named "Dramatica"
Alnwick December 2011
It's Sister Hillgaard's Birthday Today! Here's her "Dragon Fire"
Alnwick December 2011
This is how we rang in the New Year! Happy 2012!
Alnwick December 2011
We dyed Sister Hillgaard's Hair
Alnwick December 2011
I was thrilled at all my little presents!!!!
Alnwick December 2011
My pretty Christmas gifties arrived
Alnwick December 2011
Me sleeping after reading scriptures with my gallon jug of water I sipped out of with my new Build- your-own-straw.
Alnwick December 2011
Sister Hillgaard sleeping with her lion, "Fluffy"
Alnwick December 2011
Me sleeping
Alnwick December 2011
Christmas at the Hansens!
Alnwick December 2011
Calling Home!!!!!
Alnwick December 2011
Trying out my new "Build a Straw!"
Alnwick December 2011
Happy Christmas Sister Hillgaard
Alnwick December 2011
Happy Christmas Sister White
Alnwick December 2011
Happy Christmas Ronnie
Alnwick December 2011
Me being festive.....even though I'm in dire need of a food nap.
Alnwick December 2011
Me with little Sally Hansens (Jack Russel) in her new Santa outfit.
Alnwick December 2011
Sister Hillgaard digging deep to her Viking roots to conquer multiple Christmas dinners
Alnwick December 2011
Justine Jorgensen displaying my sad attempt at rice krispies.....I have other talents :D
Alnwick December 2011
Peeping around the corner to see what Santa brought
Alnwick December 2011
We had our Mission Wide Christmas Party at Harrogate Army Base
Alnwick December 2011
The love of my life arrived the other day....my brand new, six volume, Braille Book of Mormon! I love it!
Alnwick December 2011
We had gale force winds up here. The wind blew so hard, some of those wind turbines burst into flames! And we braved it, yelling, "Bring it on!!!" It slammed us into a few people and a few cars....but we survived with only minor bruising :D
Alnwick December 2011
Being our resourceful selves.....we made our Christmas tree this year, complete with our own festive ornaments! We love it! AND we plan to dance around it in true Danish form for Christmas.
Alnwick December 2011
Our cute Alnwick youth/primary putting on the best nativity yet!
Alnwick December 2011
Some of the chaos from the Branch Christmas Social
Alnwick December 2011
I'm sporting my fetching new Santa hat from the Kirches :D I'm the envy of all of Alnwick.
Alnwick December 2011
Michael's birthday present from us
Alnwick December 2011
Expressing my musical genius with these mystical bells.
Alnwick December 2011
Me with the Jorgensen family and their surprise Hot Chocolate Night.....takes me back.
Alnwick December 2011
Louise Jorgensen and I sporting our festive antlers
Alnwick December 2011
All the sisters at Zone Development meeting.
Alnwick December 2011
Candid shot...just thought you'd like to see me....in the moment :D
Alnwick December 2011
Good Morning... No better way to start the day than with Captain America advent calendar. my poor little mouth.
Alnwick November 2011
Us pulling a "Beatles" with newly set apart Elder Jorgensen
Alnwick November 2011
I couldn't resist. The yellow slicker was just so fetching.
Alnwick November 2011
This is not what I had in mind.
Alnwick November 2011
This is at 4pm....note the darkness....
Alnwick November 2011
Ronnie, the ex-miner who no one can understand except for us, who brings his dog Maggie to all events.
Alnwick November 2011
Singing Happy Birthday to a member of our branch, John....it looks like it's sucking out my soul.
Alnwick November 2011
I'm always finding opportunities to drink with crazy straws. It's the only way to go really.
Alnwick November 2011
This week I finally finished my project for Sister's Specialized Training. We're having a tea party!!!! These are the little teacup name cards, and agenda sheet. I love projects!!!! I got to do something artsy!!!! WHOO!
Alnwick November 2011
Sister Hillgaard would like you to see her new way of smiling...she's been practicing. :D
Alnwick November 2011
Ghetto copy of our adventures with the Ashington Sisters
Alnwick October 2011
Good news is...we got to have a party with our friends Sister Terry and Belliston! and eat Krave....with no milk! Yay!
Alnwick October 2011
This was the moment we realized we no longer had our house keys either.....
Alnwick October 2011
This was our expressions when we realized we didn't have our car keys anymore.
Alnwick October 2011
Michael got BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alnwick October 2011
It was so magical! It kept pooping on my dreams though and washing away all my sand sculptures!!! Everyone elses' were fine and dandy, but all the waters combined and targeted only mine! How is my artistic genius meant to flourish in these conditions!!!!
Alnwick October 2011
We made it out to the sea!!!!!!!!
Alnwick October 2011
Me churning butter. It's a great shoulder work out :D
Alnwick October 2011
Sister Hillgaard "churning butter"
Alnwick October 2011
Last week we made butter. Why you ask? Well....just to mark something off my life list :D AND I ate real live honey comb....full of wax....not exactly what I was expecting but still delicious and now I'm allergy free :D supposedly.
Alnwick October 2011
I finally made it out to the sea!!!! It quite literally took my breath away. Incredible!
Alnwick October 2011
This is Sister Hillgaard's favorite picture.
Alnwick October 2011
Sister Hillgaard in her "gown of ruby and gold!"
Alnwick October 2011
"M'lady! Thou hast not thy proper frock!" yells the man in the corner by the racks of costumes. We remedied that straight away.
Alnwick October 2011
"Sister White, POSE!"
Alnwick October 2011
Me and the Castle.....Sister Hillgaard was in charge of the camera and took all kinds of shots.
Alnwick October 2011
Sister Hillgaard casting a spell
Alnwick October 2011
Here I am engaging in warfare.
Alnwick October 2011
Here I am doing my flying lesson.
Alnwick October 2011
Here I am at the front of Alnwick Castle
Alnwick October 2011
This is me. This is what I see out the window of our member's home.
Alnwick October 2011
This is literally what I see when I walk outside my front door! Well....until I move into my new place tomorrow.
Horbury September 2011
Huddersfield, England
Horbury September 2011
Sister Sorensen and I are in a very English setting...
Horbury September 2011
Me putting on Deep Heat. I smell like a life sized Wintergreen Life Saver....fresh.
Horbury September 2011
My body hurts :D Yet I'm still in good spirits :D
Horbury September 2011
The Mighty Huddersfield Zone!
Horbury September 2011
Sister Sorensen and I went to the 42 bistro...very posh ;D We had the best panini and soup I've had in all my days!
Horbury September 2011
I couldn't help myself. I had to chase after him! Meet "Hans" from Germany in his top of the line mobility scooter that can brave any weather condition.
Horbury September 2011
I saw this man chugging down the street in a hard top JAZZY!!!!!
Horbury September 2011
Hey guess what. "Onward Christian Soldiers" was written right on this spot in Horbury. And did you know that I'm living in the Rhubarb Triangle of the World!?!?! Truth. Thought you'd appreciate.
Horbury September 2011
Nightly ritual from Sister Sorensen :D She's hiding from the world.
Horbury September 2011
This is Anne. She doesn't remember a thing, but she has THE funniest laugh of anyone I have ever met...Every time we need a pick me up, we go see Anne. She won't be able to tell you our names but what she will tell you....multiple times....is that she did welfare on Sunroyd Hill every day, and went to all the bungalows round about. Do you know what they did? They asked, "Anne, Do you want a cuppa?" (Cup of tea) and she did! She had more cuppas than she could manage and nearly floated away every single day! ahooo...hooo...hooo. :D Shout out to Anne!
Horbury August 2011
Kenneth got baptized!!!!!!!!!!!
Horbury August 2011
Treasure trove!
Horbury August 2011
This old guy invited us in and sent us off with a treasure trove
Horbury August 2011
Picture Scavenger Hunt: Be A Mannequin
Horbury August 2011
Picture Scavenger Hunt: Find someone getting their hair cut.
Horbury August 2011
Picture Scavenger Hunt: Find and IPhone 4 and Someone with a Crazy Hairdo....I wish you could see this guy from the side.
Horbury August 2011
Picture Scavenger Hunt: Find Giant Chess Pieces
Horbury August 2011
This is where Dan lives. I've been on this :D
Horbury August 2011
Kenneth and Dan. Note the Bow Tie
Horbury August 2011
When we got home....All the dancing and the squeezing took effect...I launched towards a Krave box.....good news...I felt a lot better afterwards.
Horbury August 2011
The dancing wasn't working....so I squeezed it like an orange
Horbury August 2011
Me trying to dance out a big gas bubble in my stomach.
Horbury August 2011
Sister Sorensen eating her first official English Fish-n-chips in the pouring rain, under the shelter of a little bus stop.
Horbury August 2011
We went for a fish pedicure! I've never giggled so much in my whole life!!!!
Horbury August 2011
Sister Sorensen felt like death....first body breakdown of the mission
Horbury August 2011
Making a wish!
Horbury August 2011
My Celebratory Pizza for my one year mark!!!!!
Horbury July 2011
President Lindley...keeping a safe distance :D.....me, Sister Sorensen, and Sister Lindley.
Horbury July 2011
Me on Hazel's stair lift. Life Goal officially fulfilled and it was more wonderful than I could have ever imagined.
Horbury July 2011
Sister Sorensen on Hazel's chair lift
Horbury July 2011
Mother and Child: Sister White and Sister Chelsea Sorensen. I am so proud!
Horbury July 2011
This is the Huddersfield Zone Megaphone....which is "Unsuitable for Sisters"...or is it!?
Horbury July 2011
The final Huddersfield Zone Photo...for now.
Horbury July 2011
Be amazed at the superhero lolly. I just felt like sending this. This takes me back to my Blow Pop days. :D
Horbury July 2011
This says it all
Horbury July 2011
Our four-man pow wow....these are the sorts of things we do in our "spare time" :D Thank you Kungfu Panda 2 Happy Meals at McDonalds!!!
Horbury June 2011
John of John's Ices!!!!
Horbury June 2011
Mighty Huddersfield Zone Hike
Horbury June 2011
The sky here is AMAZING
Horbury June 2011
Companionship Photo: Sister White and Sister DeLucchi
Wharfe Valley May 2011
I love this woman. Rose slapped the beard on her head and sported it for the rest of the evening. * Let us all keep in mind that she's 64, plays XBOX Kinect games...like the Wii... She dresses up and she has the most fun of anyone anywhere! She's mint!
Wharfe Valley May 2011
We had fun with wigs...People told me I looked either like Jesus....or an average English chick....you take your pick.
Wharfe Valley May 2011
Sam Peel, Me and Joyce Bowman
Wharfe Valley May 2011
We had a "60's and 70's Do" branch activity. Rose, Sara and Kevin came with the best outfits! They went all out and won the prize for "Best Fancy Dress."
Wharfe Valley May 2011
We did it again :D
Wharfe Valley April 2011
Our whole clan watching "Wallace and Gromit and the Wrong Trousers!"
Wharfe Valley April 2011
Sister Taylor and me at Rosemary Cousins's Baptism!...With her son Kevin and her daughter-in-law-to-be, Sara
Wharfe Valley April 2011
Seven inch hair chop!
Wharfe Valley April 2011
Leeds 1 University District in front of the Obo Chinese Buffet!
Wharfe Valley March 2011
Generation photo: Sister Taylor and I with our "moms" Sister Owen and Sister Richmond. P.S. Sister Owen went home. Bye Sister Owen!
Wharfe Valley March 2011
Darling Sisters,
Wharfe Valley March 2011
Amanda Kelk's Baptism!!!!!!
Wharfe Valley March 2011
All the sisters had a "Tea Party" complete with special cups, pink candles, doilies and GIFT BAGS! PSSSH YEAH!
Wharfe Valley March 2011
Me and Bessie after a hymn session. "Come here love...come sit on my knee." Every Saturday morning we go visit Bessie. Do you know what she told me after I sang a solo for her, "Do you know what that makes me think of.....an old woman rocking in a rocking chair....an old....welsh.....woman....in a creaky old rocking chair that's very old." hmmmm....old woman + welsh+ creaky old rocking chair that's very old = the last solo I will ever sing :D Sister Lamb really likes bringing it up :D hahaha
Wharfe Valley February 2011
President Craig, Mick, Joyce, Chris, Me and Sister Lamb at the BAPTISM!!!!!!!! I know I take up most of the photo....I couldn't help m'self....My ankles don't bend :D Plus...something's got to distract from the picture on a jaunty angle.
Wharfe Valley February 2011
Our friend Patricia celebrated her 50th Birthday!
Wharfe Valley February 2011
Valentines Day....These were my valentines this year.
Wharfe Valley February 2011
Mighty Leeds Zone....notice how I am strategically positioned so you don't notice I don't have a tie
Wharfe Valley February 2011
Sisters of the ELM
Worksop January 2011
Me with Norman and Rosemary Jones, who want to adopt me, and come visit us in America. fyi.
Worksop January 2011
Golden Glen at his Baptism....whoo hoo Glen, the camera's this way.
Worksop January 2011
MARK LESLIE JEPSON GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!
Worksop December 2010
I hate not being able to be part of the action....can I just say that :D
Worksop December 2010
Neil Raymond Stocken got BAPTIZED!!!!! WHOO!!!!
Worksop December 2010
Me in the snow...this was just the beginning.
Worksop November 2010
Miss Beryl Dolan got baptized!!!!! I'm sad she's not grinning....she's got the sweetest toothless grin you'll ever seen. Oh how I love the toothless :D Ps We're wearing our poppies for Remembrance day on the 11th.
Worksop September 2010
Hey hey I've got an idea...we should name this shop "Going Potty :D hahah
Worksop September 2010
Sasha!!!! Paint Girl!!!! This is my dream.
Worksop September 2010
Old People run rampant here!!! Worksop is Jazzy central!!! They have "scooter" shops on every corner and these signs on every street....heavens.
Worksop August 2010
We were carrying this to a recent convert....the bag broke....need I say more. I couldn't let it go to waste
Worksop August 2010
Ashley Louise Doncaster, Brother Jones and the Sisters at Ashley's baptism
Worksop August 2010
Me with Sister Star Owen and President and Sister Lindley
August 2010
President and Sister Clegg
August 2010
A Legit Phone Booth
All missionaries at the Preston, England MTC July 2010
Note my snappy plaid skirt
Can this count as part of my checked luggage? I feel like I should own this :)
See....it likes me...now I HAVE to take it with me.
Mr. Postman...make my day.
This cookie would NOT crumble!
