RS Broadcast!

I am feeling drained of energy and very sleepy! My intentions are to make this email short, but we'll see! Everything is wonderful. Missions are exhausting. Life is perfect.

Monday: Sports Center with the elders. Raquetball with Sister Kiser! Most fun ever! Visa waiters, Sister Walker and Nielsen came to stay with us. Splits. Family Home Evening with members and the Gautneys. It was a super cute Plan of Salvation lesson for lots of little girls.

Tuesday: Sister Kiser and I had an amazing companion study that we were able to utilize all day! We had a lesson with our ward mission leader's sister and everything we studied was EXACTLY what she had questions about. The Spirit is Ah-Mazing.

Wednseday: We had a seminar on reading body language. So.. I've been interpreting the way that people use their hands all week! We had a really good mission conference that took up the whole day. 

Thursday: We got calling in district meeting. I was the "Lunch Lady." So... It's not as glamorous as it sounds.. I chose where we went to lunch! Sister Kiser and I met a lot of people who are questionable on the spectrum between completely straight and completely not. 

Friday: We found out that Evgeny's birthday was Saturday and we wouldn't be able to go over because of the Broadcast, so we decided to celebrate on Friday. (For the record, his birthday is September 28!! TWENTY EIGHT is my favorite number. Meant to be.)

Well, I made him a giant birthday card, Sister Kiser wrote things in Russian on balloons, and we wrapped up some chocolate and hot chocolate (because Evgeny loves those things!).

Kiser and Russian balloons!

We delivered them to his house and he answered the door, smiling real big! He invited us in and gave me a giant kiss on the cheek!! Despite not being able to understand each other, I could feel the Spirit testifying so strongly of God's love for all his children. I was reminded of the saying, "Preach the gospel at all times.. And when necessary, use words." I love this marvelous work!!

Sister Kiser and I contacted a house with a giant apple tree. Many of the apples had fallen, so Sister Kiser went around collecting them! haha

Kiser stealing apples

Saturday: Met an ex-polygamist. OYMed a guy who didn't dress cool, but was cool! He is reading The Happiness Project (Reminded me of you, Mama!), he was listening to Florence and the Machine, and he was returning a Redbox movie with Tina Fey! I am convinced that we will teach and baptize him! 

What a fun time!

That evening, the sisters in our mission (minus Sister Summerhays..Where were you?!) went to Salt Lake for the Relief Society Broadcast.

Women at the RS broadcast in SLC

It was soooo good! I love being in the same room as the prophet! I received so much revelation:

"The errand of angels is given to women and this is a gift that as sisters we claim." -We are given the gift to perform the errand of angels! What a marvelous and wonderful responsibility.

"Covenant-keeping is one way to express our love for the Savior and His Atonement." THIS is how I want to show appreciation... Not just on my mission, but for life!

Sunday: My district leader told me that President Eberhardt shared my last email to an entire stake at a stake Priesthood meeting! (I wrote to him about the microphone guy). 

Microphone and amp!
(See last weeks blog)

We had a Stake presidency meeting. I love these stake leaders! I never want to leave! 

Sister Kiser and I had a lesson with a set of 9-year-old twin girls. Their parents don't want to "sway them" and therefore, they know NOTHING about God, Jesus Christ, or Satan! It was wild. We showed up and the parents put us alone in a room with the girls. They told us that we could tell them about what we do, but we shouldn't give them a lesson.. After a few minutes of conversation, we decided that we would pray with them and teach them how to pray. It's just so bizarre to think that by not teaching your children anything, you are helping them! To not teach anything is a message in itself!

In church on Sunday, someone bore their testimony and said, "How many of us want to be like our mothers?" And I thought... I DO! Love you, mamma!!!

I have NO idea about BYU! Ahh! I had a dream about SRU last night and I am thinking about the reasons to go to each. I want to go to BYU for selfish reasons! The temple! The firesides! The mission friends! The members! But at SRU, I would have sooo many more missionary opportunities! I just want to be a missionary forever. I just want to be where the Lord needs me! But every time I ask the Lord where He needs me, he tells ME to choose! I don't wanna choose!

Love you soo much!!

Lessons taught and lessons learned!

So many things to think! Yesterday was my one year, one month mark. I can't believe all of the things I have experienced and all of the people I've been able to meet. Who would I be without my mission? Who am I with it? I am Colorado, I am Chile, Philippines, Canada, Peru, Russia, Connecticut, I am Korea, North Carolina, I am Arizona AND Texas, I am Germany, I am China. I am buttons and balloon scraps. I am President Uchtdorf's silent gongshow. I am bold and sometimes I am a brat. I am repentant. I am independent. I have seen Elders Holland, Cook, Oaks, and Christofferson. I have been in or to the temple roughly 20 times. I have served in 5 areas. I have served in 2 missions, with 2 mission presidents. I have OYMed hundreds of strangers, given out many of copies of the Book of Mormon, and sent more prayers to Heaven than ever before. I am engaged in THE Great Cause. 

Monday: We had a lesson with Underwear Guy! We went over and he came out onto his porch...Wearing clothes! I congratulated him and told him that it is absolutely essential for him to have pants on every time we come. We did find out that it was a dare from a friend. So that's good! He is 17 and searching for the truth. He is so interested in all religions. In fact, he was fasting with a Hindu friend from school just so that he could experience it. He is a bit awkward, but Sister Kiser and I are pretty bold so we asked him honest questions and he gave us honest answers. He is a really good kid. And he is also our new investigator!

Tuesday: President called Sister Kiser and I to tell us we would be housing more visa waiters this week, but only for a night or two. He also gave us a referral for a woman in the elders' stake (they requested Sister missionaries). We went to a lesson with our almost-deaf man and it was so sad because he wanted to give up! He said he couldn't hear us or read the book we had given him. Sister Kiser and I were so stubborn though and refused to give up!

That day, we did Family History with Janie. It was so fun! I forgot how much I actually love it until I got on the computer and started to find pictures and information for her family tree! 

That night, we had a lesson with a Less Active woman, her children, and her non-member husband. We did the Plan of Salvation lesson and set out little pieces with each part of the plan along the hallway. When the NM husband got to the Spirit world, resurrection, and judgement, he stopped and asked what to do. We said that he could choose where he wanted to go: Celestial Kingdom, Terrestrial, or Telestial. He said, Where do I WANT to go or where do I THINK I will go? And we said Where you WANT to be with your family. And in that moment, it was like he was understanding the reality of God's plan for him.

Wednesday: We had a lesson with our nearly-deaf man... Sister Kiser and I brought him a giant copy of the Book of Mormon, one of the large print ones! And we borrowed a microphone and amplifier from the mission office!  It was so crazy, but we wanted him to know how much we love him! And I went into it with the mindset that it is after ALL that we can do, that we are provided miracles. The district leader and his companion came with us, and a woman from the ward. The Spirit was so so strong, but the man was just so stubborn!! He said that he wanted to feel the Spirit or feel what we felt, but that he was just too old and couldn't change. The elders sang and they are SO GOOD! The Spirit filled the room, but the man wouldn't budge! Grrrr. Agency is tough!

We went teaching with a ward missionary that night. We visited this lady who opened the door and said, "There is ugly. And there is cute. And I am not cute." hahah. It made her even cuter!

Thursday: We had an amazing lesson with G****, our less-active who has been going to church and got her temple recommend back. Sister Kiser and I brought a dozen helium balloons, taught a lesson about the Anti-Nephi-Lehis burying their weapons of war, and focused on how the Atonement can help us LET GO of mistakes. We each took a couple of balloons, wrote things we wanted to let go of, and let them go all together!! It was such a relief!

Friday: Day of Faith walks and OYMs. Sister Kiser has been practicing and improving. 

We went to a family with a daughter out on a mission and the mom read us her email. The daughter is serving in the Ukraine and isn't allowed to wear her missionary tag or proselyte! I am so so grateful to serve here. I know a missionary tag isn't essential to preach the gospel, and words aren't either.. but I have learned to be bold in ways I couldn't be without words. 

Saturday: Sister Kiser was having a rough day. She felt inadequate as a missionary and was crying and I said that I was sorry for being so tough but that I only was because I know how much potential she has. She said that I am the trainer she asked for. She wanted to grow and she wanted a "kick in the butt," but that it was hard when she actually got it! I am so proud of her humility and I have no idea what I am doing as a trainer, but I just hope that the Lord is consecrating my efforts. 

We went to the less-active woman's house who loves for us to sing. Her son is LA too, and so she yelled for him to come in the room.. and he sang with us! We sang How Firm A Foundation! 

Sunday: Thirteen month mark (but I will forever say, "A little over a year"). Councils and correlations. The singing lady went to church! 

We had a really good lesson with Casey. She has such a sincere desire to learn and grow and be a good member of the church!! 

Crazy and wonderful week! I love you soo much!

A third companion.. and other strange events!

This week has been SO wonderful! It has been spiritually uplifting, a complete gongshow, and a memorable week for sure!

Monday: Gongshow. Sister Kiser and I spent nearly an hour at Walmart's photocenter. I printed all of the pictures from Nancy's baptism and made her a baptism book. We got free Italian ice at Rita's and didn't have time for much else. We scheduled 2 teaching appointments before our Pday was over... because, well, we'd rather be teaching. 

That night we had Family Home Evening with the Monsons. We played Gospel Charades and had a great time. Sister Monson's actions were suuuch a stretch from the words. My favorites that she acted out were: "Garden-O-Eating" (Garden of Eden) and "Three -SOUNDS LIKE- 'Ping Pong'" (3 Kingdoms)...  We had dinner and an icecream sundae bar afterwards.

FHE with the Monsens

Monday evening we got a call from President Eberhardt. He said, "Would you like a roommate?" We said yes, and he told us that we would be in a trio for a week!

Tuesday: Sister Kiser and I picked up our new companion at the mission office... SISTER HOFFMAN!!

Sister Kiser, Sister Hoffman and Sis Wall!

Ahhh. She was so lovely and I just felt like her mama right away! So here is the scoop on Sister Hoffman... She is one of the new NINETEEN-year-old missionaries that everybody loves. She got her mission call to the Malaga, Spain Mission. She was supposed to go to the Spain MTC but she didn't get her visa, so she went to the Provo MTC. She finished after 6 weeks and still didn't get her visa so she was assigned to the SLC East mission, specifically in Wyoming. After a week, her visa arrived, but she couldn't go to Spain for another week, so we got reassigned to come live with us! We were so so excited to have her! We jumped right into work and she was SO great about it! She went along with the flow of everything. We didn't even drop off her bags, we went right to a service project. We were laughing and working and having fun the whole day. 

That evening, we found out that ANOTHER one of our investigators went to jail... It's becoming a pattern.

Later, there was a conference where Elder Allen of the 70's spoke to the church ward council auxiliary leaders in this area about missionary work and hastening the work. It was so stinkin' good! Some of my favorite lines: (Regarding members) "'I'll go where you want me to go... Over mountain, or plain, or sea..' But not across the street..." ...(Regarding members saying that their neighbors aren't ready to receive missionaries) "'Maybe someday' is NOT hastening the work!"... "Success is based on whether or not I invite on a regular basis." 

Wednesday: We forgot and remembered (were reminded) that we would have companion studies with the district leader and his companion. We showed up late and were kind of a gongshow, but it was effective in the end!

Sister Hoffman, Kiser, and I contacted a referral for a nearly-deaf man. We were literally shouting and I had to keep getting closer and closer to his ear. We just stayed on the doorstep, but he accepted a Book of Mormon, and told us that we could come back the next day to talk to him more!

That evening, Sister Hoffman and I went on splits and Sister Kiser went out with Allie.

Splits with Allie!

Sister Hoffman and I went to a lesson up the canyon in the Brighton Branch. The Ward Mission Leader set it up, so we rode with him, his wife, and the elders' quorum president. They set up a lesson with this guy who was a competitor on the TV show, "The Voice". His voice coach was USHER!!!!! (Anyone who knows me knows he's ma boyyy!) ...I was strictly business though and didn't even ask about it! Also, I found out that he sings on some of the EFY cds! (I have to admit, I did ask about that a little bit!) Well anyway, the man is a member who hasn't been very active in the past 2 years, but still comes to the branch every now and then. He served his mission in Portugal and it turns out that Sister Hoffman grew up speaking Portuguese because her mom is from Brazil! So they got to speak to each other a little bit and that was really cool! We had a good little lesson.

Thursday we had a lot of meetings; splits again; Sister Hoffman tripped over the sidewalk a lot and I fell on the ground laughing; and someone paid for the district's lunch!

Friday: Ohhh myyyy myyyy... We did service for the triplet mom. 

We had a lesson with the nearly-deaf man!! We taught him the Plan of Salvation and he was able to hear most of it! I was so excited to teach him because he kept saying that he didn't know what his purpose was or why he is here. I said, "I am so excited to teach you about resurrection because you will have your hearing back!" and he said, "Is that true?" and I said, "Yes!" and he said in a hopeful voice, "No...It's not..." and I said, "Yes! I know it's true because the Spirit has witnessed it to me," and we told him to pray about it. He said that he would have a lot of things to ask Heavenly Father about. We are meeting with him again tomorrow!

We didn't go on splits, because it was sooo rainyy, but Allie came out with us. 

That night, we had the most STTTRAANNNGE experience......... Well, first of all. The elders had sent us a media referral for someone in our area who wanted a copy of the Bible, so the elders gave us this super nice, brand new Bible to give to him. Well, Sister Hoffman, Sister Kiser, and I decided to stop by at the end of the night and give him the Bible and try to schedule an appointment with him. We show up and it is dark out and no one is answering the door for a minute. Then we see a shadow walk by the window. Expecting to meet an old man, instead a teenage boy in underwear answers the door... Only underwear! And not even boxers! I wasn't completely positive that he was in underwear because I was trying sooo hard to only look at his face. He said, "Can I just have the book and not have this conversation? I'm in my underwear." ..That's when I knew that he was really in his underwear.

Oh myyyyy

Saturday: We got a text from "Underwear guy"..officially claiming himself as "underwear guy". We didn't answer because we were in studies, but he called us and I said, "Hi, this is Sister Wall," and he said, "This is..Ryan." haha. 

Sister Hoffman, Sister Kiser, and I got a media referral so we went to the house and found out that the referral was ... Guess where she was? ...in jail! We are setting records here.

That night, we had stake conference. I LOVE THIS STAKE! I love going and knowing everyone. When I go home, I just want to know everyone, everywhere! The talks were SO AMAZING. One of my favorites was given by this woman who was less-active for 25 years and then came back into the church! It was so powerful! I thought of Michael and Adam the whole time. I just love my brothers SO much!! She challenged us to think of someone who is less-active and then remember them as she told of her experience. I have such high hopes for my brothers. I knowww that the Lord knows them! And he is watching over them. She said, "3 people never gave up on me: Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and my daughter... Be one of these people for those you love." I will never give up on Michael or Adam! I know that they will be active again someday. They know it's true. They love the Lord. He loves them. 

There were 2 other speakers, including fellowshippers for our recent-converts. They told about their teaching experiences with us and I felt the Spirit so strongly. I love the member missionaries. 

Some things that President Hicken said that I love: "Become a disciple of Christ like you never have before." ... "Can we tell Christ anything at all about suffering?...We cannot teach him anything. We are so forgetful and rebellious." (<<<That definitely resonated with me!")... 

Sunday: We had breakfast with the Passeys.. Waffles and ice cream!!! Then we went to Regional Conference! We saw a broadcast of a few of the church leaders. 

We had dinner with the Jarmans, the entire Gautney family came! Nancy, Noelia and Scott, Lorraine and Amelie! 

It was Sister Hoffman's last night in the USA! We put on red lips, laughed and played, and had a lot of fun.

Ladies in red

Today!!: Sister Hoffman left bright and early. I miss her already!!!!! 

Sister Kiser and I got to go to the temple with our entire zone. Salt Lake City temple! So beautiful! I love it there. 

The district

I love life. This email is 100 years long. I miss you all. Love you! <3

What a great week!

Sister Kiser and I are so excited to still be in the Wasatch Stake!! What a great week! Our stake president has covenanted with the Lord to find us 20 lessons a week and that is a HUGE reason why we are seeing such great success!! This past week, we taught 20 lessons to non-members and less-actives, and had a few active member lessons as well!! When the leaders are excited about missionary work and exercise their faith, the enthusiasm trickles down! 

Monday: We had a zone picnic day at the park. I wrote letters and spent time with the missionaries getting transferred. Sister Zeiner left our zone and I heard that she went back to Park City!! Also, we went to Brother Passey's and he helped my back again (it still hurts! What the heck!) We went to Nancy & Noelia's. And we met with Evgeniy at the park! Elder Pokrovski couldn't make it, and we didn't have our Russian cheat-sheets, so we just improvised. We are understanding more and more! (or so we think).. He wrote a tiny little Russian sentence in my journal, which I think means "I love you" and signed his name. He pointed to himself, blew a kiss, and pointed to me! That night, Sister Kiser and I made a giant farewell card for Elder Mayo, our zone leader who was getting transferred. 

Elder Mayo!

Tuesday: Sister Kiser and I picked up Sister Mackelprang to come to a teaching appointment with us. She is so good! She can hardly walk and hardly see, but she was the only one willing to come with us! I keep telling her that I think she will be "twinkled." We had a lesson with Nancy and she reported to us that she had been doing extra scripture homework assignments that she found in the pamphlets we gave her. So good! We got a new district leader-- Elder Connell!! He is perfect!! He has been in my district the whole time I've been in Cottonwood, so he's been the only one I've known consistently for 3 transfers. Sister Kiser and I got a text from the elders saying, "Guess who you're new district leader is?" Sister Kiser and I were screaming! 

Ummm, we also found out that our former investigator (the 26-year-old) is in JAIL!!! Ohh boy.

Wednesday: Sister Kiser and I visited a Less Active who we heard had surgery recently. There she was in her yard, cleaning up pinecones! We asked if we could help, she said no, and we did it anyway. haha! She was so stubborn, but I was persistent! We helped her and she kept saying things like, "Go on now and do what you're supposed to do." I said, "This is what we do!" Mom, she reminded me so much of the lady on Pollyanna! ("You've got a stubby little nose, what do you think about that?" "I know it, I wish I were pretty like you!") We just talked to her and loved her to death. When we got done, our hands were SO sticky!

Sticky fingers

We asked to go inside and wash our hands and she said Ok. Then I asked if we could share a message and she said, "Be quick about it." hahhaa. So we did, and she was so stubborn! but I could just tell that she loved it. 

Nancy had her baptismal interview! And she did so great!

We had dinner with the Dansen family and their little girl was so adorable!! She was like 4 years old and demanded that I sit by her, and then she kept kissing my arm! Sister Kiser was giving the spiritual thought and asked the little boy what his favorite person in the Book of Mormon was and the little girl whispered to me, "You're my favorite in the Book of Mormon"... !!!! 

We finally met up with this family we have been trying to get in touch with forever! It went well! The ward missionaries went with us, just to drop by, and they were so receptive. 

Thursday: Elder Connell conducted his first district meeting! The Spirit was so strong! He used a lot of scriptures, which I love! We had district lunch at this place called Noodles. Mmm! 

That night, we had a crazy lesson with the Boyak family and the Gautneys (Nancy & Noelia). It was absolutely gongshow, but we played this fun Gospel game and the girls all loved it.

Friday: For the first time on my whole mission, I was asked to leave someone's property! We were tracting and this lady answered the door and was talking about energy making the world work and naturalism, etc etc, and I told her that everything works out so perfectly because of Heavenly Father! She said, "Now you are arguing with me and I have to ask you to leave my property." haha. Oh bother.

We did service for this really sweet lady who had just gotten home from dialysis. We helped her upstairs because she was so weak and we cut her some cucumbers. We weeded her yard and shared a message with her. She said she doesn't go to church anymore because of her lack of energy but said that she missed hearing the hymns.. so we sang for her! Out of key and not the best, we sang, "Be Still My Soul" at her request. She was so grateful. 

Scavenger hunt 

Sister Kiser and I did a scavenger hunt for Nancy!! I can't wait to send the pictures. It was so so cute and fun! Nancy loved it! We had a scripture on each card and a little hint, pointing her in the direction of the next clue. At the end of the hunt, she was in the chapel, and found a little bag of treats and a card congratulating her on her baptism. We just wanted to do something fun and get her excited for her baptism the next day. She loved it and felt so special! I love service!

That night, we had dinner with the Lees. They planned on going to a teaching appointment with us after dinner, but the appt. cancelled, so we asked them where they thought we could go instead. So Brother Lee took us to a Less Active couple that he hometeaches! We never would have gotten in without him! I just love member missionaries!

Saturday: We attended a very last-minute-planned surprise party for Elder Connell! His companion, Elder Andrus, kept saying, "Do you know how hard it is to plan a surprise party for your companion??!" haha! He did so great though! We went with Allie Eggbert, an 18-year-old member who we invited to come with us for the afternoon. We snuck in the church building, saw Elder Andrus and asked him where Elder Connell was. He said he didn't know, but then we heard Elder Connell whistling down the hallway, and so we all hid (Sister Kiser, Allie, and I). They ran into the gym, but I didn't have time, so I hid behind the couch. Elder Connell came in and was talking to Elder Andrus, and then turned around and I was laughing so hard, and he saw me! I said, "Surprise!" And the other 2 jumped out. A few minutes later, the rest of the district showed up so we made Elder Connell leave and pretend he still didn't know. Everyone hid and Elder Connell came walking down the hallway again and we all Surprised him! haha. It's a secret that we double-surprised him! 

Surprise!

We had a really great day with Allie!! We met up with the family we had seen on Wednesday again, and we played Memory on the lawn. Two of them aren't baptized and agreed to let us come back and teach them!!! Wooo! 

When we dropped Allie off she told us that she really looks up to us! She said that the first time I had come over with Sister Summerhays, that she really felt the Spirit and it was then that she decided she wanted to go on a mission!! Wooo!! Inspiration!

That night, we had Nancy's baptism!! YAYAYAYAYAY. It was so so good and I absolutely love her and I love that family forever!! They are so special to me. 

Nancy's baptism!!

Sunday: We went to Nancy's confirmation. She was glowing.

We went to dinner at this professional chef's house. He announced every item on the menu and Sister Kiser and I were like, Whaaaat. There were a ton of people there! He handmade pasta and made this giant fruit trifle. Let me set the scene of the next events.. So, we are all finished eating our dinners. Sister Kiser and I are preparing to share a spiritual thought, and suddenly, we hear music playing on overhead speakers. Softly at first, and then louder and louder. Cool, we say, music for our spiritual thought. But no. The sister and brother are standing at the end of the table, staring at the wall behind everyone, like they are getting ready to perform. And suddenly. She begins to sing. And then he joins. A duet. They are singing opera. Loud! It was sooo random! And then she did a solo. And then him. It was absolutely crazy. Don't get me wrong, they were good singers, but it was just so unexpected! 

That night, we ran into a Return Missionary on the street, talked to him for a minute, and then told him we had to go to a lesson. He asked if we needed a member to come with us and we said, Sure! So he ran in and changed and then followed behind us in his car! It was such a great lesson! I never want to go home, but if I ever have to, the missionaries are going to be so annoyed with me because I want to just do missionary things with them!

Well, it was a nice week. I am never leaving Utah. Sorry, mom. I love you sooo muchhh!! 

Dog on the roof! What the world?!

Pictures, pictures, pictures!

Cool trees!

This is going to be a speedy email (hopefully!) I will try to give the highlights! Hopefully the pictures can explain! 

Transfer update: Sister Kiser and I are staying together in our stake! Woo!

Monday: Mission activity in Brighton.

Brighton Hike with Sister Willis & Sister Summerhays, my BFFs!

Saw my Park City sisters and my bestfriends. Went on a scavenger hunt with Sister Summerhays. We were scavengering for Sister Willis.. We found her! Sister Eberhardt gave us all Salt Lake City East shirts, color-coded according to zone.

After Pday, Sister Kiser and I went on a neighborhood walk with Sister Mackelprang, this adorable, sweet lady. She took us around the block to meet a lot of her neighbors. She is pretty unsteady and almost blind so we held her hands as we walked slowly. 

That night, we did Family Home Evening with a member family and Nancy, Noelia, and Amelie. It was so fun! They showed a video, had a treat, did an activity, had the little boy conduct and everything!

Tuesday:

This is just a glimpse of how beautiful SLC is!!! 

Went on a morning walk to wake Sister Kiser up! Saw a mama pup & 7 wrinkly babes. They crawled all over us and bit our skirts and were completely adorable. Later, met Frank from Hungary, a non-member. He said he would be baptized if we can convince his daughter to serve a mission! Challenge accepted!

That night, when we went home, Sister Kiser and I thought that there was a murderer in our house... There wasn't.

Wednesday: Sister Ashworth gave us SOOO much food! We super needed it because we had absolutely no food (at the end of the month, money gets a little tight!). She is so so sweet and gave us two whole boxes of healthy, delicious food! What an angel.

Boxes full of food from Sister Ashworth!!! <3

Grace showed us her art portfolio. She is so so talented!!

The talented Sister Grace Thorton

That evening, we went to Temple Square with Nancy, Amelie, Noelia, and Sister Ashworth drove. Such a fun and spiritual experience! Nancy's baptism is this Saturday! Yayyy!

Temple Square with Nancy and Noelia!

Thursday: Zone workout at the park. Zone meeting... Flashlight tag... Injuries... An elder ran right into me and squished my toes and threw my back out of alignment. Dangerous game, and only kind-of worth it. 

Friday: Zone conference with Elder Arnold of the Seventies. Amazing guidance and direction! 

Saturday: So many strange things. A dog almost ate me through the fence. A boy with a half-shaved-half swoopy-haired head talked to us at the door and Sister Kiser and I ran to the car, I said, "Get in the car, Kiser!" and we busted out laughing. Sister Kiser was laugh-crying. So good. Day full of OYMs and door approaches. That evening, Sister Kiser and I OYMed a girl and her mom playing volleyball and Sister Kiser taught the girl how to serve!

Back problems started to arise out of nowhere! 

Sunday: Meeting with President Hicken! Hastening the work!! My very favorite thing he said, "We are not hastening the work just to hasten the work.. We are preparing for the coming of the Lord." He is sooo good. He always says, "We are doing good, but we can do better." I am so grateful to be in this stake. 

Sister Kiser and I taught gospel essentials. People were crying! (From the spirit, not because it was awful).

Brother Passey, our highcouncilman over missionary work, who is also a physical therapist, did crazy things to my back to help it feel better. It's starting to improve slightly. He showed me a few stretches that I can do to help it stop hurting.

That evening, we saw Sister Mackelprang again. She told Sister Kiser and I to tell our moms that we are wonderful people. We said, we will tell them that you are a wonderful person, and she said, No, tell them that you are wonderful people! She is so stinkin' cute.

We also met these 2 kids who are super enthusiastic about missionary work!! They are so missionary-minded and could be on the LDS website. It's amazing.

Today.. Happy Labor Day! Also, Sister Walker, our landlady's birthday. 

Love you all! Happy Holiday!

Love, Sister Wall

The beautiful Salt Lake temple!!