Monday, December 26, 2016

christmas party-ed out

So this week was Christmas part central!! It was very fun and festive :)
Lets take a gander together at the week!

Party #1
Ms. Kelly Joe's family Santa party. 
Our wonderful less active that we have been working with made sure we were taken care of for all our Christmas needs and especially a picture with santa
 
Party #2
The Holm's classy family dinner and FHE :) 
 
Party #3
The Brian gang. Christmas eve gumbo and white elephant!
it was the same place we went to for Thanksgiving
 
They got us adorable presents that were so beautiful I didn't want to open them
 
 
The Pride Elders! Elder Mortensen and Bennett. They got LSU ties and we got dresses with a sash!
 
 
Party #4
CHRISTMAS ZONE CONFERENCE
the crew
 
 
The oldy moldies. 
The originals who were here one year ago in the Denham springs zone. #wow #feelingold
 
 
Family picture!! my daughters <3
 
 
Party #5 
The Price Family decorating mom's sugar cookie recipe!!
 
 
​Party #6
CHRISTMAS DAY!
classic present load pic :)
 
 
Party #7
Skyping with my favorite people on earth <3
 
 
LOVE YALL SO SO MUCH!
I just think the world of yall and am so grateful for yall :) couldn't have had a happier week!
xoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxxo
sister sades
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, December 19, 2016

elder howe and miracles

Yall. We are frozen little popsicles over here. 
It got really really really cold. like colder than I have been in a very very long time :(

but we had a really really awesome experience this week! 
(told yall I would have a good story this week :)

So this week we got permission to go visit Elder Howe! and that was so amazing. 
He is progressing like crazy and is such an inspiration to us all. We are so happy that he is improving so drastically. 

Friday night, we went down to the hospital in Baton Rouge and visited him. 
His speech is fantastic, he looks and acts very normal, he just wears a helmet! 
It was great to see him and help keep his spirits up.
But in reality, he lifted our spirits up. 
Elder Howe is so charitable and Christlike and selfless. We loved being with him for a quick moment!

We had the cooooolest experience when we went to go visit him though. 
When we were there his parents weren't there so there was a nurse sitting with him, there to help him with whatever he needed and whatnot. (not entirely sure why actually lol) But we were talking to Elder Howe and making sure we involved her and helped her feel comfortable. We all got talking more and talked to her more about her life and just a whole bunch of things! 

One topic lead to another and before we knew it, Sister Henrie and I and Elder Howe were all team teaching this nurse the Restoration. Talking about the Book of Mormon, prophets, missionary work, and how we can best follow Jesus Christ. It. was. so. cool.
Also this nurse was the most golden investigator I have ever met. She knew she needed something in her life, she's been searching for a way to get closer to God but she just didn't know how! and then this just dropped into her lap. It was completely meant to be. When we were talking about the Book of Mormon with her she was so pumped! She got out a notepad and was writing down the suggestions we gave her of scripture chapters and page numbers to read. 
IT WAS AWESOME. 
It helped lift us and we think it helped Elder Howe feel like a missionary again. 
 
visiting Elder Howe ft his zone t-shirts he designed and the golden investigator nurse!
 
 
 
 
 
GUESS WHO WE SAW IN THE PARKING LOT
SOME OF MY FAVORITE FRIENDS <3
I love missionary work and sometimes we have these little "God-wink" moments to help remind us why we are doing what we are doing. and I love it. and need it sometimes. 

LOVE YALL AND I HOPE YOU HAVE THE MERRIEST CHRISTMAS AND I'LL SEE YOUR FACES IN 6 DAYS!!
xoxoxoxxo 
sister sades
 


 
this cat liked tummy rubs and was so chill and relaxed he was falling out of my arms!
 

 
volunteered at a veterans cemetery putting wreaths on graves on veterans!
 
 
 
We were in a Christmas parade! it was really fun. I was a shepardess who walked next to our
float and handed out scrolls that said "keep Christ in your Christmas!" it was great!
 

 

Monday, December 12, 2016

another day in the life :)

dearest darlingest familia :)
 
our transfer news is pretty boring... Transfers for the Zachary district is all expected. 
 
One from each companionship is being transferred. 
EXCEPT US!
So we glad about that. 
we have another 6 weeks to attempt to figure out what we are doing! :D lol jk but not
 
This week.... hmmm.... I really don't have too much to report on because we just go around and knock on doors most all day everyday sharing the best message in the world!
I love Christmas time. its a wonderful wonderful time of year :)
yalll... I'm the worst. I really don't have too much to report... 
so here are some answers!
 
What is a habit that you have developed on the mission?
waking up at 6:30am. I've gotten really good at that.
Listening. and being interested in everything their saying.
saying "yall" and "dang" and little southern phrases and mission phrases that we have.
always carrying a bag with me everywhere
taking pictures of everything
being on a strict schedule
being exhausted daily
learning to love others so much more than I ever have
being aware of all my surroundings

 
What do you think is one of the MOSTEST IMPORTANTEST things you want to teach all new missionaries? Like your little daughter you are training?
figure out the way that you feel/hear/listen to the Spirit. aka learn the language of the Spirit. it makes everything alot easier because you just do what God wants you to do.
 
also obedience is cool. its really cool. especially when you do it cheerfully. (bc if you dont then its not fun for anyone and you might as well just not)
not just obedient to the mission standards. but obedience to everything in life. 
listening to what people say and doing it. or what they need and helping them.
obedience to God and His teachings and what He is trying to tell us.
Never trying to find loopholes or outs of things. 
its too complicated. don't try and look at it another way. just be completely and totally obedient. 
Its called honesty, humility, & integrity.

What was the first thing you guys did to get started in your brand new area???
(srry i forgot the very first one) we went and met the members who's side apartment we live in. They showed us what key was the house key and where we park and so on. 
first, we had to clean alot. our apartment was kinda grody.
second, we looked through the phone and the ward roster. trying to make sense of everything. (that was very overwhelming. everything was different and I didn't have any idea who any of the people were. I looked through the ward roster and didn't even know who the Branch president was. #what)
third, we texted the previous missionaries to tell us who the branch president was.
fourth, we called the branch president. (he didn't answer.)
fifth, we called a man from the ward. (we found a bag with a note to take to him at church on sunday. we figured that meant he was active.) so we called him and he answered! We asked him who the Branch presidency was, who the RS president was, and who the Branch Mission Leader was. Where is the church building, what time is church, is there anything going on that we should know about.... little things that you don't think about that new people don't know.
sixth, we called all those people who he told us. (none of them answered, we left messages)
seventh, we called the missionaries in our district! the Zachary Sisters and Elders. then we asked them other basic questions like, wheres the nearest walmart? wheres the library so we can look up all the other things we don't know? 
eighth, we went tracting in our neighborhood. 
ninth, we came home... at what little food we had leftover, then we rearranged and started deep cleaning the apartment so we could start unpacking our stuff in a clean place. (that we knew was clean)
tenth, we planned for the next day. looked through the area book a bit. 
eleventh, we went to bed. finally.
 
wow. what an overwhelming day.

Who is one of your missionary heroes? (another missionary in your mission that you really admire)
oh my heck. I have so many. like so so many.
but this is who I thought of right off the bat.
Sister Sarah Louise Amezcua
an inspiring example of strength, optimism & also being real, and Christ-like love and caring for others around her. truly a steadfast rock
Sister Shaina Karen Toner
an incredible example of listening to the Spirit, being genuine, listening & caring for people and just calm sunshine in a person. 

 
What do you do when you get home when you have had a really hard day?
we plan. we always come home and plan no matter what the day was like. 
 
then after that I will take a hot shower. 
showers soothe all the pains and stresses of the day. 
also its a good calming satisfactory feeling at the end of a really good day!
sometimes depending on the mood I will bring in our fancy DVD player and play music or listen to talks. and that is how I cope. by the time you get out of the shower its time to be over it. whatever "it" was. you had that time and now its time to be over it. I talk to Heavenly Father alot too during this time. is that weird idk over it. it works for me :)

 
anyways... I'll try to have some stories for this next week!
and then I'll see your faces the next week!!!!
ahhhh hooray for christmas!!!
Love yall so so much!
be thinking of some more questions for christmas :)
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
sister sades
 
last monday for p day we went to a haunted plantation home tour!! It was rainy and absolutely beautiful. and haunted. 
The Myrtles Plantation
 
our creepy tour guide........
sister cornia swears she felt a hand touch her and tried to blame it on us.... but we weren't even close to her.
 
rainy days in our truck mags (short for magnolia)
 
last district meeting with this rad team!
WE MADE A COFFEE TABLE for our apartment! actually we hammered in some nails and watched Cowboy, a lessactive we love visiting and are working with, do most of the work
 

Monday, December 5, 2016

life isn't picture perfect but we sure try

Yall what a blessed week it has been here in s-laughter town.
 
Updates on Elder Howe, he is a miracle, improving and recovering beyond belief. Truly Gods hand is in all of this. 
Updates here, we are still doing our finding thing! Trying to find people to teach and most especially to WATCH THE CHRISTMAS VIDEO WITH US!! 
The Christmas initiative this year is a Christmas countdown. 
25 days in 25 ways. 
Things to do everyday to come closer to Christ. Such an amazing message. 
 
But this week we had a ton of adventures so that equals a PICTURE LETTER!
tune in for the stories and miracles and adventures of the crew. 
 
day 1 adventure 1: unpaved roads. aka the beauty of s-laughter. aka all the roads in s-laughter
(so its actually not an adventure because it happens all the time. just documenting daily life)
 
good job gps
adventure 2: a broken bridge in the middle of nowhere adventure
This one was an actual adventure. wow. 
Pretty sure it was supposed to be washed out and un-drivable from the flood but it was safe! and beautiful
adventure 3: we went to mississippi!! the was no mississippi sign just the edge of our parish sign. 
but it was awesome. 
 
 
day 2 adventure 1: THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER (in louisiana)
part of our area backs up to the MS river. I had driven over it but haven't touched it yet. 
it was cool. in both meanings of the word.
louisiana. the pearl in my oyster of lyfe. #idkwhat
am i cool yet
adventure 2: exchanges with this beauty
I ADORE SISTER TONER. she is a light in my life and a huge example to me. She was my STL in the last 2 transfers when I was in Covington and she is my STL again and I have learned wonders from her. our exchange was a blessing for my soul. literally cant express how much she blesses & influences my life
 
we went to a rainy rainy rainy festival to contact. Handed out lots of #LighttheWorld cards and then went to get Lebanese lunch to warm up
 
WE HIT A DEER!!
 
day 3: so not cool. 
actually its more like a deer hit us. 
here is the narration from my incident report. 
driving down the highway when its dark. brights are on, see a deer on the left side of the road, slow down, deer gets scared and starts running after hesitation. hits the trucks drivers side rear & tail light. knocks tail light out but it still is connected and works. There is a large dent in the body of the car above & after the tire.
whats missing is that we are screaming our faces off when the deer starts running. #hatemylife
BEYOND THANKFULLY THOUGH, the deer ran off into the wilderness and we could not find it. i cannot think of the state I would be in if we had found the deer. 
10/10 would not do it again.
our feelings about it post freak out and calling our car dude and not finding the deer.
day 4 adventure 1: ztm
I love zone meetings. I wait for these for the whole week. I love missionaries.
Ugly sweater day
me and bbygirl + the ugliest sweater
DS zone <3 e howe.
these are the zone shirts Elder Howe designed and ordered before the accident. 
how cool is that. 
so happy to be apart of the Denham Springs zone and this little miracle.
 
our district fam bam

 
These are some random pictures from the week.
I take pictures like these all the time but usually don't include them in the letter. since its a picture letter though.. why not? :)
where I'm coming back to get my dreads
dabbing with a random statue in front of a house that didn't answer the door
 
its casual
sister toners first time cutting a pineapple!!! ft a sneak peek of our apt
 
a tree inside of a tree.... what
 
LOVE YALL SO MUCH
share the christmas video with one of your friends today! or a stranger. 
its great how the christmas season brings us together and makes it a billion times easier to share things about Christ. 
Challenge yourself. 
talk to someone about the christmas video. 
watch it with them in a line at the store.
share it on social media.
->> you will be surprised at how many people are happy to see it and happy to hear it <<-
TRY IT.
 
love yall bunches. 
merry christmas
xoxoxoxo
sister sades