Week 74: "Soy Discipulo de Jesucristo"

Querida Familia y Amigos,
          Sorry I am a day late.  They switched our Pday so we could attend the temple.  

Last visit to the Seattle Temple

Not sure where to begin.... so I will begin with best thing that is happening right now.  It's Christmas time! And the Church has released it's new video for the year.  If you haven't seen it, watch it now.
https://www.mormon.org/christmas  If you haven't sent it to a friend, send it now.  Discover why He was born. Discover why He is important to you personally.  The Prophet and Apostles and other leaders of the Church are giving us such great resources to be member missionaries. How non-threatening is a video? Very.  And it is so simple, yet powerful.  
          Christmastime is the best because there are so many activities to invite people to and peoples' hearts are softened for about 3 to 4 weeks of the year.  If you are thinking about inviting someone to church, here is your opportunity.  The chances of them saying yes are much higher this month.  It's so great!  And one of my favorite things is that when we knock on doors right now, we just tell people that we are singing Christmas carols and sharing a message about Jesus Christ.  Almost all of the doors stay open and quite often we get invited in.  One guy even started a fire for us to stay warm!  Plus I love getting to sing praises to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
          We had a good, quiet Thanksgiving.  We ate with the Santisteban's.  They joined the church about four years ago so we talked most of the time about their incredible conversion story.  They were given lots of anti-Mormon material early on in their investigation of the church, but they overcame it and found the truth.  We also got together as a mission that day and had a musical talent show. I ended up singing "The Lord is My Shepherd" with Sister Partridge and Hermana Oliphant playing the piano.  Who would have ever thought that I would sing in front of group of peers?  I didn't, for sure. 
          We also had our Mission Leadership Council and I went on two exchanges as a Sister Training Leader. For one of them I went back to Crossroads with Hermana Brooks.  I got to see some members and investigators from that area that I love so very much!  Especially seeing the Chavez family!  The best part is that they are still planning on getting sealed in the temple this summer!!!!  I truly enjoy being a leader even though it's a lot of responsibility to carry around.  I just feel so happy not worrying so much about my troubles and getting to spend my time serving others.

After exchanges with Hermanas Brooks & Flores

          Also this week we were able to put our investigator, Maria, on date to be baptized on January 2.  She is the cutest little grandma from Mexico.  Probably in her early 70s.  She taught us how to crochet the other morning.  While we were doing that, we were asking her why she hadn't read the Book of Mormon. She finally told us that the letters were too small for her to read.  We were able to bring her a giant print from our apartment and wow! I have never seen her so happy!  She was like a little girl in the candy shop. She was opening it up to random pages and reading out loud. And of course she included in her own two cents about what she learned.  It was fabulous!  She is the cutest!

My last companions Hermanas Oliphant & Collette

           Well, I want you to know that I know that the Church is true.  There are plenty of good people and good churches out there, but this is the only Church with the Priesthood of God.  Whatever we do here by that Priesthood, whether it be baptism or marriage, it will be bound on Earth and in Heaven.  I have learned these truths through the Holy Spirit.  Even though coming to Seattle was an unexpected mission call, I know that I was chosen by God to be here at this time, to serve His children.  I want you to know that I love my Savior Jesus Christ.  Sometimes it's hard to know if He is there, but once I take that leap of faith, I always feel His presence.  I know He lives and I know He loves me.  I want to express my thanks, my gratitude to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to labor in His vineyard as a missionary, a trainer, a Sister Training Leader and as a disciple of Christ.  I am thankful to have served my siblings, both English and Spanish speaking. Thanks to all of you for supporting me and praying in my behalf. I will forever be grateful for my mission.  I love this gospel and I am going to miss being an ordained servant of the Lord.  But I will not stop serving Him.
Yo se que las cosas que estamos haciendo son real. Esta obra es de nuestro Padre Celestial. Yo he recibido mi propio testimonio de la restauracion, del Libro de Mormon, El Plan de Salvacion. Mas importante, yo se que Jesucristo es mi Salvador, Maestro, y Hermano. Le amo. Y con su Evangelio podre superar la muerte y sere perdonado de mis pecados. Estoy agradacida para las muchas bendiciones que El me ha dado, especialmente por mi mision y mi familia. En el sagrado nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.

Con Amor,
Hermana Stoddard

Google Translation:  I know that the things we are doing are real.  This work is our Heavenly Father's.  I received my own testimony of the restoration, the Book of Mormon, the plan of salvation.  More importantly, I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior, Master and Brother.  I love Him.  And with His Gospel, I too can overcome death and I'll be forgiven for my sins.  I am grateful for the many blessings He has given me, especially my mission and my family.  In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Semana 73: Bienvenido al Barrio Verdadero

                                         Welcome to the True Neighborhood

Querida Familia y Amigos,

          Estoy en un barrio de Espanol! I am in a Spanish ward!  Okay, sorry about the skimpy email last week. I will try to make up for it. 

          Last week in Tiger Mountain, Sister Partridge and I had quite a few heart to hearts.  She taught me a lot about communication.  It's okay to talk about how I feel and that it's better to talk about problems than stifle them.  We ended up having a good, successful week.  We taught Brian again and he came to church! He may not have been baptized, but we believe that we were there in that area mostly for him.  We were able to connect with him really well and hopefully one day (hopefully soon) he will decide that he is ready.

          We also learned to overcome many of our fears.  We endured the mountains at night, we learned to talk about hard things, and we learned to love those who are difficult to love.  We ended up singing "The Lord is My Shepherd" in sacrament meeting and apparently we are going to sing it again in front of the mission for our Thanksgiving activity.  Who would have thought that I would ever sing in public?  But here I am!  I also bore my testimony at my last member missionary fireside and I gave my departing testimony at zone conference this week.  La Familia Solis from Seahurst came to the fireside just to see me and they committed me to come back to Seattle with my sisters to see them.  I just love these people.  I was a little emotional at the fireside because there were people there from all the different areas I have served in.  It was like an ending to a good book. There was closure and I was happy.  

La Familia Solis

          I know that my time here is running short.  My brain knows that, but it hasn't informed my heart yet. I still feel like I will be doing this work forever.  But I guess the greatest part is that I have learned so much  about how to be a good member missionary.  Missionaries are set apart to help people be spiritually converted to the gospel (hardest part), but members have a special calling to socially convert people. Gordon B. Hinckley said that people need both to become lasting members in the church.  I realize how much I have grown these past 17 months, I just hope I have grown to be the person that my Father in Heaven wants me to be at this point in my life.

          Well, I am happy to say that now I am in a Spanish ward.  It's the only Spanish ward in this mission so they refer to themselves as "El Barrio Verdadero" or the true ward (kind of like the expression the true church). There is a good mix of South Americans in this ward so I am learning how to understand different accents, especially the Argentine accent!  But I was excited to see that I retained a lot of my Spanish.  I am just trying to give it my all right now.  I am so happy to be back to trailer parks and city although it's not as ghetto as my first area.  We were able to teach many lessons and find many new investigators.  Have I ever told you how much I love Hispanics?  They had a Thanksgiving activity with lots of food!  And the best part was that we had 14 nonmembers there, many of them investigators!  I became a Spanish speaking chatter box!  I even had the opportunity to translate in sacrament meeting....that was kind of rough, but I am glad that I tried. I absolutely love being with Hermana Oliphant and Hermana Collette.

The Trio:  Hermana Oliphant, Hermana Collette & Herman Stoddard

We have already had so many laughs.  I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father to be ending my mission this way.  Especially as a sister training leader.  I have learned something for myself....we truly are much happier when we are serving.  I love being able to know and serve many sisters.  It's hard, but it's the best.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Con Amor,

Hermana Stoddard

Week 72: Last Transfer

Received 7:00 pm on Transfer Day

Hi family and friends,

          I am okay!  The power is out in a lot of Seattle right now so we had to travel to find a library with power.  I don't have any time to write today, but I just wanted to let you know that everything is alright.  I was transferred....Wait for it...I am in Bothell Spanish speaking and I am a Sister Training Leader again!  I am serving with Hermana Collette and Hermana Oliphant again!  I love you and hope that your week is just sparkles, bubbles and butterflies!

Con Amor,

Hermana Stoddard

Week 71: The Lord is My Light‏

Dear Friends and Family,

          So the time change has been awesome.  It is dark at 5:00 which is when we go out tracting.  This is a different ball game than last year.  Last year I was in the ghetto, but there were people around and there were street lights.  Now we just look like two dumb lost girls trying to find peoples' houses in the woods. And then the next challenge is trying to find the front doors, so we have to creep around the house.  We don't mean to, but we look like robbers.  We knocked a door and no one answered but the guy followed us to his neighbor's house and scared the living day lights out of us.  He asked what we were doing knocking doors in the middle of the night.  All we could stammer out was, "It's 5:30 sir."  Once he realized that we were missionaries he told us to have a nice night and quickly walked away.  

          I will be real, my companion and I are both struggling with fear right now.  We constantly recite the scripture "perfect love casteth out all fear."  I have felt Heavenly Father's comforting hand quite a bit this last week.  I always pray for protection and I literally felt the presence of angels.  Besides that, we were able to meet a few great people.  We found a young couple who let us in. They are expecting a baby any day now.  They weren't very interested in the gospel, but after talking with them we found out that the husband's whole family is Mormon.  We know that his family is praying for them and I can't help but think that we were an answer to one of those prayers on that dark, wet night.  

          After that we were walking in the rain with soaking wet hair and singing hymns and laughing. Luckily, Sister Partridge bought new boots so her feet weren't wet that day. I just love the symbolism of us carrying our lantern in the dark to go find those people who are lost and honestly searching for light in their lives. The scriptures are becoming very real to me.

          We had the talk with Brian...you know the baptism talk.  He was kind of defensive, but he told us that he wasn't feeling well, too.  Anyway, he is an honest 'truth seeker' so he said he would be baptized if he felt it was right, but so far, he isn't feeling it.  I am just trying to figure out if now is his time or not.  He has had too many experiences not to accept the fullness of the gospel one day. Please keep him in your prayers:) 

          We also had the great privilege of taking two new investigators, a husband and a wife, to the family history center with a ward missionary.  Bob and Gene are the cutest British couple in their 80's. They have been wanting to do family history, but now we have given them the opportunity to actually do it.  It was so great to see how excited they were!  They told us about their lives, their parents, grandparents...it was literally so much fun.  And all of it was said in cool Liverpool accents!  Love it!  They asked to come back next week....let me think about that one...um YES!  We are really excited for them.  We hope the Spirit of Elijah will touch their hearts and they will be more willing to talk about the restored gospel. 

          Yesterday I gave a talk in church about the Plan of Salvation.  This month, Tiger Mountain ward is focusing on missionary work.  My job was to share that lesson the way I would to an investigator so that the members will feel the spirit of missionary work.  It just made me so thankful to know why I am here on this Earth.  I am grateful to know that I have a purpose and that I am not alone.  It doesn't matter how dark and scary the world gets, my Father in Heaven will not abandon me.  And I know the same goes for all of His children.  I love all of you!  Keep being faithful!  Keep being happy!

Love,

Hermana Stoddard

Week 70: Where Love Is

Dear Friends and Family,

          Sorry today is a crazy day so...bear with me...I have to register for school, so my letter will be short.

Last week was pretty awesome.  We carved pumpkins, went to the local famous burger place called "XXX Burgers," taught the activity day girls about manners and had a Halloween party as we planned our week. I also went on exchanges to Cougar Mountain and guess what?  There is a man there who was just baptized and he totally remembered me.  I knocked on his door this spring and he was friendly, but he told me and Hna. Oliphant that he wasn't interested at that time.  But miracles happened and he was baptized!

            This week we were in the middle of a member meal when the power when out.  Haha.  Luckily we had our lantern.  It was pretty hilarious.  We were also able to give out a Book of Mormon while we were filling up our car with gas.  And last but not least, there was a Spanish fireside that I was blessed enough to go to!  I sang "Getsemani," a new primary song, with four other Hermanas and I also gave the closing prayer.  4 out of 5 of my converts were there.  Many members from the Crossroads and Seahurst branches were there.  I LOVE THESE PEOPLE!  There were so many hugs!  So much love!

          Yesterday the Stake President spoke to our relief society about controversial issues.  One thing that he said that I love is that we can't judge the past.  The past is a foreign country.  That helped many of us feel more peace about past issues.  I am just glad that Heavenly Father gives us knowledge line upon line, precept upon precept or else things would be much more complicated. I am so thankful for the gospel and the loving people with in it!

Con Amor,

Hermana Stoddard

Letters from the Heber Beehives!

Week 69: Change of Season, Change of Heart‏

Dear Friends and Family,

A little jammie time after a hard day!

          It's getting wetter, darker and colder out there...welcome to Seattle!  I have never been so excited for Daylight Savings in my life!  Forget Halloween!  No, it's been a fun week.  We just had to bust out all the fleece lined tights, gloves and wool socks again.  Some of the long-timers up here on the Mountain say that sometimes the power will go out up to a week at a time.  I truly hope that never happens!  I would rather not become an ice cube!  I can't imagine serving a mission in Russia and in some of the colder places of the world.  I have been so blessed to serve in a mild climate.  Rarely too hot or too cold...all you need is a light jacket:)

My study area

Our cute little casa!

          We have had a few cool run-ins with people.  We met a guy named Erik who has never been religious, but he is dating a less active member of a neighboring ward.  He was open to having us bring a member over and come in and teach him...so we did.  He is starting to read the Book of Mormon and he prayed for one of the first times in his life.  So cool!  We also met a very kind Bahia lady with whom we had a very good discussion about the Restoration, and we also met a very kind British man who wants to do family history with us. 

Our Jesus Bracelets

          Update on Simon: we haven't seen him.  He basically lives at school.  Always doing homework or chores.  But the good news is that his mom and dad are starting to really like us.  We went over to see Simon on Friday and his mom let us in to talk to her while she was cooking.  She is very sweet...just doesn't like talking about religion a whole lot.  So we are trying to set up service to help their family out.

          Update on Brian: He likes us coming over and he doesn't mind sitting out on his front porch to talk with us (it's a rule that we can't go inside with a male unless another female is with us).  He is always sharing more and more with us about his spiritual path as a healer.  We are praying for the gift of discernment so that we can find the truth in what he says.  I have found that there is a lot of truth; sometimes he perceives it differently than the "Mormon" way.  What we are struggling with at this point is helping him understand the importance of the priesthood and ordinances.  He has seen many miracles and performed miraculous healings based off of faith and spiritual gifts.  I don't discredit that, but I think he is still missing a fullness of the healing that can be done through the Priesthood.

A llama in the forest.  What??

          Also he has a big problem with repentance.  He was raised in a Baptist church and he felt like their doctrine teaches "God loves you. A lot. But you are a sinner and you will burn in hell."  Which isn't super far from some of the ideas I had about repentance growing up.  But something that I have come to understand, starting in high school until now, is that repentance isn't the punishment for sin.  It's the cleansing power.  It's the rubbing alcohol in the wound.  It's sandpaper on the wood.  It's probably going to hurt a little before things get better.  But that's the beauty of repenting daily.  It is a little bit of cleaning everyday instead of having to deal with a whole blowout at once.  It keeps us in line with the straight and narrow. 
          We had interviews this week with President and Sister Schofield.  I was a bit of a mess...(I will tell you later), but they taught us about forgiveness through repentance.  Pres. Schofield asked us, "Who is in need of repentance?" All of us raised our hands. "Who does God forgive?"  All of us raised our hands a little more hesitantly.  He read in the scriptures about the promise that God makes.  That when we repent, He remembers our sins no more.  As often as you repent is as often as you will be forgiven.  Pray for strength to overcome your weak spots.  This is how we truly live at our full capacity, living up to our potential. 

Thank you for all your love and prayers in mine and my companions' behalf.  Have an incredible week! Share your testimony with the ones you meet. D&C 62:3

Con Amor,

Hermana Stoddard

Pday breakfast out

Halloween Cookies

Week 68: Figgies & Jammies and Ewer House‏

Dear Friends and Family,

          I realized that I always put all the spiritual things that I learned during the week at the end of my letter, but there are really the most important things that happened all week so I am going to switch things up.  We had our Bellevue South Stake conference this weekend and it was like an encore to General Conference.  It was that good.  I learned that personal revelation is essential for our individual salvation.  I learned that Family History is VITAL for our own salvation.  We can't be saved without our ancestors and they can't be saved without us.  I learned that I need to feel something when I pray.  I learned that there have to be doubts in order for faith to exist.  It's just learning to lean on the faith, reaching out to the Author of Hope instead of turning to the Father of Lies.  I learned that all of us, including ancient and latter-day prophets are people with follies.  There has only been one through all of history that is perfect; and we call Him our Savior, our Brother.  I learned that I can understand all of these doctrines with my head, but it's when I KNOW them with my heart that they become truly beautiful.  I know through the warm impressions in my heart and the enlightenment in my mind that the Gospel is REAL.  He is REAL!

          Sister Partridge and I seem to attract all the "spiritual" people of the mountain, or at least they are the most willing to talk to us.  They all believe in Christ, but live a more Buddhist/Eastern philosophy life style, and don't want to be associated with any religion.  It's been a very interesting experience.  One of those people is Brian.  He has been taught and dropped more than several times by lots of missionaries over the last five years.  But we feel that we need to keep talking with him right now.  We made some headway with him last week.  I felt inspired to share Moroni 10 with him where it talks about spiritual gifts. It totally clicked with him.  The awesome part was right after I read it, a very large tree in the forest in front of his house felt down. There was no warning, there was no wind, there was no one chopping it down, it just cracked and like the sound of thunder it fell down.  He took that as a major spiritual sign or rather a confirmation of truth.  That's when he started reading the Book of Mormon again.  He grew up Baptist and really hated it, but he has kept his belief in Jesus Christ and in prayer.  In the last 10-15 years, he studied with Native American Shamans and became a spiritual healer.  We have been finding that there is a lot of truth to what he believes, he just sees it in a different way.  We are still trying to figure out how to help him see the importance of the priesthood and the organization of the church.  He is a really great guy though.  We love talking to Brian...he even feeds us Fig Newtons!  But they are a special gluten free brand called Figgies and Jammies! haha

          We officially moved.  The Collin's family moved out and we had to move out the very next day.  We moved to the other side of our area and live with a single lady in our ward named Sister Ewer. I thought it was so funny when I put it in the GPS because it says, "Arriving at Ewer house."  haha  Anyway, it's a lot smaller and cozier.  It's like staying in a little cabin.  And she keeps it ultra clean which makes me ultra happy! 

          Some fun things we did this week was we went to a local pumpkin patch and talked to some people there.  Of course we bought our own pumpkins too to celebrate the season.  We also got to go to the member missionary fireside last night in Redmond.  I got all choked up seeing people from many of my areas.  Ah, I just love the people!  That's when I could see that I am making a difference in people's lives.  I am making a difference by bringing the good news, the word of God, to all of their homes.  What a blessing!  Just remember that Love replaces fear. "Be not afraid, but be believing," Mark 5.  "Be strong and of a good courage," Joshua 1:9.  Our God is always with us.  "He goes before our face and His angels are round about us."  I love you all to pieces.  Reeses pieces!

Con Amor,

Hermana Stoddard

Week 67: What Happy People Do

Dear Friends and Family,

          Sister Partridge and I laughed and sang a lot this week.  We had a lot of random things happen.  We saw a llama, so we paparazzied him.  We knocked doors in the mountains, in the dark and down pouring rain.  That was actually quite fun.  Quite the experience.  We thought it was hilarious and people thought we were crazy as we would knock on their door, looking like drowned rats, ask to sing them a song about God and then merrily skip off their front pouch.  I guess that's what the gospel does to you...it makes you a happy human even when there isn't a reason to be one. 

Bus stop on the mountain.

          We were having some car troubles late one night so we stopped at the only gas station within 6 or 7 miles.  Everyone at the gas station ended up taking a look at our car.  They said that there must be an internal leakage because we were losing a lot of engine oil.  So the next day we took our car to Issaquah to get fixed.  But we wanted to be good missionaries so we started walking around and talking to people.  We ended up on a park bench talking to a girl who was about our age.  Based on her appearance, it looked like she has had a hard life.  We were able to teach her about the Restoration and give her a Book of Mormon. 

          My scripture I am ponderizing is Isaiah 64:8.  Sorry, I am running out of time, but read it.  It's a good one.  You all are great people.  Trust the Lord and love yourself!

Love,

Hermana Stoddard

Fairy Forest Bakery

Present for a less active member.

They took our furniture.  We are moving!

Week 66: The Dealings of God with the Tiger Mountain Sisters

Dear Friends and Family,

The Fairy Bakery

          I have to admit I was a little confused last night when I didn't get a transfer call.  I had strong feelings that I would be Spanish speaking for the rest of my mission.  It was hard not to be a little disappointed to think that I will have spent more time in English areas than Spanish on my mission. But on Sunday, I got the impression to fast on Monday.  A fast for strength to help me give 'my everything' to the Lord this transfer.  I guess part of 'my everything' is giving 'my will' to the Lord. My will was to go back to Spanish mostly because the work is way easier and much more successful there.  And of course because I love Hispanics and I get to practice Spanish. 

I went a little crazy with language study during lunch time.

I can't complain.  This mission isn't about me.  It never was.  I am blessed that I even get to be here.  He knows there are people here in Tiger Mtn. that need me even though I don't know who they are.  I am a little broken hearted, and I don't understand, but that's okay.  I guess I don't need to.  I just need to work and do what He would have me do.  I will be fine and this transfer (or lack of one) is going to be a blessing.  There are miracles here for Sister Partridge and me, we just have to go find them. T hank you for your prayers. I will give everything I have to serve the Lord.  I am committed to work hard my last months here in my Father's vineyard. Yet again, the Lord reminded me that this mission isn't about me.  

Sister Partridge TRIED to make pomegranate
seeds into a heart since I was so bummed about transfers

          So let's talk about the miracles....We had a  great week!  We had two people actually let us into their houses to talk with them. One guy was a Wiccan and didn't seem too interested in converting, but he wanted to hear the message from the girl missionaries.  The second was a couple and they committed to read the Book of Mormon and come to Conference.  They didn't make it to conference, but....we are still going to keep bugging them:)  

          We had two investigators who we haven't seen in a long while sit down and talk with us.  One of them had been reading the Book of Mormon!!!  He is a little Buddhist, a little Christian.  There are a lot of people around here that kind of figure out their own religion, pulling truths from everything. Anyway, I think that Rick is a real truth seeker. He said he has been praying about the Book of Mormon and his answer is "keep reading it."  Sweet!  

          Then there is Brian.  He is a really interesting guy as well.  He studied with a Native American shaman and he is Christian.  He is really into talking about spirits.  He has had a lot of neat spiritual experiences (I think back to the days that my grandma and I would watch Ghost Hunters).  Anyway, he has read the Book of Mormon and said he prayed to know if it's true and he got nothing.  But he said if God tells him that it's true today, he would get baptized tomorrow, so we keep going back to see him once in awhile. 

          It just keeps getting darker and darker around here.  Luckily we had a less active give us bear spray and the members we are living with gave us a lantern.  I feel better, but it does get a little freaky at night.  Of course I had to be in the ghetto last year and in the forest this year when it gets dark early:)  But God has been protecting us, trust me. 

          That brings me to General Conference.  There were so many great speakers! Overall, I learned about being happy.  Just be happy.  It's learning to love the gospel.  Being joyful through trials. I choose to ponderize....it's the new thing apparently.  I chose Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto Salvation to everyone that believeth."

I got to watch conference
across the street from the temple.

          I want all of you to know that I would never do what I am doing if it weren't the true gospel.  I would have given up a long time ago.  If I was just a salesman trying to have people buy a product, I would have quite months ago.  But what I bring to their doorsteps is real.  I know.  I have felt it.  I know that the Atonement is real.  It's been the thing that has carried me the last 15/16 months. And I am going to let it carry me for the rest of eternity.  I love all of you and I pray for you.  Please pray for Simon and Rick this week.  Sister Partridge and I are committed to baptize two people this transfer!

With Love,
Hermana Stoddard

The Andersons - fabulous missionaries
& just plain hilarious!!

This is Tony.  One of the crazy people in the woods.
Just kidding, he is incredible!

This is Bro. Mancini.  He is 80, baptized a year ago,
a war veteran and an old Hollywood western film director.
He calls us his angels!

Spa Night --- Nacho Libre Style

Week 65: God's Creations + the Plan of Salvation

Dear Friends and Family,

          I just wish all of you could go on a day exchange with me out here in the sticks.  Just to experience what it's like tracting in the dark up everyone's driveways.  It's just hiking the same hill over and over. Actually, I feel bad for the missionaries that never get to have the full tracting experience.  I am serious! That's when you get to know your companion more.  That's where all the  best stories come from.  That's where you get to meet lots of people.  We literally ran into a couple on a dirt road the other night.  We were walking and they were walking and wham!  Haha we ended up looking at the blood moon with them. How cool was that?!

          Last Monday we had a great FHE with Simon and the Kenyon family.  The Kenyon's have 8 kids, coming up on their 9th, so Simon got to experience all aspects of a fun Mormon family.  We taught him the Plan of Salvation.  He told us how he has always felt that earth wasn't his real home and that he had existed before this life.  Well, we have news for you Simon!  One of his friends from school is actually one of the Kenyon girls.  She was so excited the whole lesson!  She couldn't believe that this boy she had been eating lunch with and sitting on the bus with was so prepared for the gospel and in tune with the Spirit. Moral of the story is:  You never know who is prepared.  Always share the gospel and invite people to learn about it. 

          The other thing that we have been dedicating a lot of our time to this week is cleaning.  We had a former investigator who is in the hospital right now.  Some of her neighbors have taken on the project of cleaning her trailer.  It's really bad.  Hasn't been cleaned in years.  As gross as it is, I love being able to do service.  It makes me feel very humble and Christlike to be able to get on my hands and knees and scrub someone's floor.  I love it! 

          As missionaries we get to go to the Stake Center to watch General Conference.  Wasn't the Women's session incredible!?  It was very inspiring for me.  I received loads of revelation to help me know what I need to change to have a successful mission, which is a jump start to a successful life.  I am so blessed.  I am so humbled and grateful to be here.  I absolutely love this work.  I am learning everyday more about my Savior and what He has personally done for me.  If you have ever even considered going on a mission, do it.  Just do it.  You won't regret it.

Con Amor,

Hermana Stoddard

Week 64: Animals Galore!‏

Dearest Family and Friends,

          It's a sure, proven, without doubt fact that I saw more animals this week than people.  When I was little I promised myself that I would have a big dog.  Now I realize that I have turned into my mother...no big dogs for me!  Everyone has at least two mangy mutts here.  They are slobbery and hairy, but they are great missionary tools!  You ask people about their religious beliefs and it's a "no go."  If you just pay a little attention to their dog and start talking about the K9, wow, people will start talking and telling you all this stuff which typically will go into their whole life story.  So I guess you could say we are starting to figure out the people of Tiger Mountain.  But we still get more than a few doors slammed in our faces.  We just start singing hymns louder and go skipping along down the mountain.  Sister Partridge and I are pretty much running our own "The Sound of (Gospel) Music" around here.  We just frolic in the meadows and forest. 

The Sisters of Tiger & Cougar Mountains

           But when the sun goes down we get a little freaked out about the bears and cougars.  No bueno. Luckily, we have had lots of lessons with members at this time of night.  We are getting to know them and they are all very unique and very incredible brothers and sisters.  We had a lesson with the Collins (the couple we are living with).  Brother Collins is a fire chief, but he is going to retire soon so we are currently looking for housing elsewhere. I really do love living with them. They are so sweet. 

This is where I live!

          We also have been working with the Anderson's in our ward.  They are converts of 5 years and love the gospel! The best part is that they have no fear in sharing it.  Brother Anderson was a jockey for many years, but said he "ate himself out of a job" hahaha.  He is this little fire ball that invites everyone to church and passes out the Books of Mormon like hot cakes. They even have a sign in their driveway that says "Mormons park for free"!  He is so great! Everyone, members and non members alike know Brother Anderson.  I am so grateful to these members and all the sacrifices they make in the name of the Lord. They help us out a lot in furthering His work. 

          Now the update on Simon.  He fell off date for baptism which was unfortunate, but its okay. We are making progress.  The reason he fell off date is because he hasn't been able to come to church...his mom wants him to have all his homework done.  So we are the nagging big sisters that constantly remind him to do his homework, pray and read the scriptures!  He love us though.  And we love him!  We are making progress with his family too.   They invited us in this week! They started making deals with us....be careful what you get yourself into Hermana Stoddard!  So Simon's dad catches critters for a living.  They told us to hold a tarantula.  Of course I was like, "No way Jose!! Never ever!!" But then I saw all the symbolism in this experience.  By holding the tarantula, I realized that I will have faced all of my fears head-on while on my mission.   So I gritted my teeth and I did it!!! But then I screamed and had him take it back. But I did it! Haha. 

AHHH!!!

          Something that I have been working on is truly loving the gospel and loving the people.  I am just trying to be more passionate about being a missionary and a disciple of Christ.  I want to be better at putting my whole heart and soul into my testimony when I share it.  Something I learned yesterday in church is "The Holy Ghost gives us courage to use and love to share."  As long as I can bear my testimony with the Spirit, the Spirit will make up that difference that I am lacking.  I am so grateful everyday for the opportunity to serve.  Thanks for your love and support! Have a good week!
Love,
Hermana Stoddard

We found sparkling cider!

Pday Activities

Pizza for lunch

Week 63: Service is the Answer

Dear Friends and Family,

          Hola!  How are you people?  This week was good up on the Mountain.  It was warmer and dryer than last week.  We had a few fun things happen.  One of them was Zone Conference.  We talked about becoming Consecrated missionaries and then about member missionary work.  Both good, both inspiring. I would like to share some of the thoughts that I had with you this very day.

          Consecrated missionary:  I hated when we talked about this subject as a new missionary, but now I am not scared of it.  It still is a daunting thing to think about, but a lot of things have been put into perspective for me.  Beforehand, I would get so stressed because I just felt like I couldn't put everything on the alter of sacrifice.  It's hard giving up everything to do the will of God.  I thought I had given everything up before I got to the field.  Little did I know that on the mission and through out my life I will constantly be asked to give things up.  Sacrifice is crucial for salvation.  But there is good news. Putting everything on the alter of sacrifice is a life long pursuit.  It's demanding perfection which everyone knows can't be reached in this life.  

           Every time I leave the apartment I state "my purpose" as a missionary by saying, "Hermana Stoddard, forget yourself and go to work!"  It's taken me a long time to understand how to forget myself.  Forgetting myself means that I change my nature so that I naturally do the Lord's will before mine.  I will naturally think of others before myself.  It's not about forgetting who I am and not taking care of myself.  It means to be submissive and humble, willing and accepting.  President Schofield also talked about how we are to find joy in the journey.  We can expect to find joy at the destination because there is no final destination until we live with our Father again. S o being truly consecrated means that we find joy in the daily steps.  Now there is the real challenge!  Be happy!

          Member Missionary Work:  President Schofield has received revelation from the Lord that they only way the work is going to truly move forward is through the members, which is so true.  The only thing is a lot of members don't know what to do or how to start.  Members freak out because they think they need to know all the answers, but much more important is just bearing their testimonies.  We get the opportunity to do that all the time at church, but how often do we give little simple sparkles of truth in our daily lives?  What we have is so precious.  We have THE TRUTH.  The truth will set you free! We have the knowledge of how to free souls within our grasp and we need to tell people about that. 

          The whole training given to us was from a member of the stake presidency in Shoreline.  He talked about how members don't necessarily need to be the teachers, but they need to be the finders.  If all 15 million members of the church would find new investigators for us, we would constantly be teaching and baptizing.  That's the Lord's vision and we are working hard to put that into effect. We have been role playing(practicing) with members on how they can share the gospel at school, work, grocery store, ect... I hope that I will be a better member missionary when I get back.

          This week we were able to give service to a lady that really needed it.  We scrubbed her kitchen which was full of mold.  I was makin' my mamma proud!  Another awesome thing that happened was a sister in our ward turned 100!  She requested a luau for her party so our ward threw this huge Hawaiian themed party that was super fun and effective.  Lots of people came!  So fun!  Anyway, I love all of you! God loves you.  Be happy.  Read John 16:33.

Con Amor,

Hermana Stoddard

What Week Am I On? 62!!‏

Dear Friends and Family,

          Everything has been hunky dory in the woods this week.

Hermana Stoddard & Sister Partridge

People are so funny here.  They moved to the mountains with lots of property and trees around their houses to get away from people so when people (us) show up on their front stoop, they don't seem to really like it.  But they always talk to us for just a few seconds because we are girl missionaries and they always seemed shocked by that.  Then they always tell us that they have big dogs (which a lot of them do) and that there are bears in the neighborhood to shoo us away.  It's hard to tell when they are being serious or not. hehe

The Great Wall of Tiger Mountain

Into the Woods

          We saw a lot more horses, chickens and lot and lots of goats and dogs and a few people this week. I feel like it's required to have at least two dogs to live in Washington.  For reals!  We normally have lots of paw prints on our skirts by 11AM...so attractive, I know.  But it's been fun.  The small town girl in me is coming out!  I feel at home and I talk to people about my days of pig raising.  A lot of the members in this area are older.  As in great-grandparents older, so there are lots of war stories and pie eating.  It's pretty great.  The big challenge that we are facing is that it gets pitch black by 8 at night.  There are no street lights and the trees block out pretty much any light coming from the sky.  We have flashlights and we are fine, it's just that everyone else goes to bed and aren't super happy to see us at their front door.  But no matter, nothing is going to stop this work from moving forward.

          We do have one progressing investigator we are working with right now.  He is a 16 year old named Simon.  He is such a sweet, sincere kid.  He has never had religion in his life, but whenever we teach him, he recognizes truth.  It's literally just bringing thinks back to his remembrance.  The problem is his parents, particularly his mom, aren't so fond of organized religion.  She makes excuses for him to not go to church and meet with us.  The times we have met with him have been miraculous.  Definitely God's timing.  Simon loves it and knows it's true.  He is starting to get up at 4 in the morning to read the Book of Mormon before his family is awake.  We have fasted and are praying for his family to have a change of heart.  We know that the gospel will truly bless all of them by bringing them more unity and love.  He is on date to be baptized October 3, but he needs to come to church two more times and we still have three lessons to teach him. Please pray for Simon and his family!

Delivering a package to Simon

          I studied this week about trials.  I have a James Christensen calendar on my wall and I was looking at a painting that had to do with adversity.  It is a painting of a hunchback man, which represents the everyday man, with the tree of life sprouting from his hunched back.   He is enjoying the fruit which is eternal life. Isn't that so true.  It is better for us to know sorrow and pain so that we can know what real happiness and love are.  Through our adversities, weaknesses and challenges, we know what it's like to be free and happy and stronger when we overcome them.  I have seen this time and time again out here in the front lines of the battle of good verses evil.  Just like the stripling warriors were wounded from their battle with the Lamanites, the servants of the Lord, all the missionaries, receive battle wounds.  But that's okay.  It's a chance for God to show is mercy and His miracles.  None of the stripling warriors died. Likewise, no matter what the adversary throws at us, we can overcome it.  We may get injured in the process, but he will not win.  He may bruise the heel, but we have the power to crush his head.  I know that our Heavenly Father has given each one of His children the power and authority to overcome the world.  He also gave us our freedom to do so.  So the choice is ours.  Who are you going to let rule your life? Who are you going to let win? Food for thought... 

          Have a fantastic week!

Con Amor,
Hermana Stoddard

Week 61: What is my Life?‏

Dear Friends and Family,

          Well, its been officially one of the weirdest weeks of my mission.  I feel like my life has become a movie.  I have moved to the mountain of Tigers here in Issaquah...lions, tigers and bears, oh my!  But the thing is, I really don't feel like I am in Seattle any more.  There are more goats up here than people!  

It's a goat's life for me!

In reality, there really are more dogs and bears than people.  And it gets really dark up here at night!  I am literally in the forest!  It's an adventure that has been really interesting so far. 

          The first day I got here, my new companion Sister Partridge and I went to the only trailer park on the mountain and I met Brother Chaffee and Brother Mancini who are more mature (older) gents who were baptized a year ago.  Man, they are a hoot and a half!  First of all, this area has been tracted a billion times, so everyone knows the Mormon missionaries.  Second, this is the first time in over 20 years that Sister missionaries have touched this territory so it's kind of fun to be here!  Even people who aren't interested are like, "Wait, where are the guys?  They have girl missionaries?" and all of the members are just so happy to have us here.  Anyway, Bro. Chaffee and Mancini call us their angels.  Bro Mancini writes and makes old Western films and he worked for Hollywood for many years.  He wants us to be some "bar girls" in a movie he is making right now, but of course we'll wait until we are not missionaries anymore.  I think Grams would be best friends with him.  He always tells us, "Don't fly faster than your guardian angels can fly."  He is always trying out his cheesiest movie quotes on us.

          We live in a member's home.  It's a really nice set up with our own kitchen, living room, bathroom and bedroom in the attic.  They are a really great couple that are taking care of us. The only thing was this week, Seattle decided to be Seattle again and rain...a lot of rain!  So tree branches started falling down and knocked out the power in our house for almost 24 hours.  So flashlights it was!  Luckily, the members are pretty self-sufficient and started up the generator so that food wouldn't go bad.  We just wrapped up like cocoons to stay warm that night. 

          The craziest thing happened this week when we went to invite a less active to church.  We talked to him outside of his house for two hours.  A lot of it was him talking to us.  But wow!  He has had 12 years of living alone in the woods to find out the mysteries of God.  He was very intelligent and was connecting world history, math and anatomy to the Gospel.  It was kind of a mind blowing experience for both me and my companion.  Afterwards, we were like, "Wait, what?"  The Gospel connects to everything and Jesus Christ really is the center of everything and He makes the world go round. 

          This week I found a lot of peace in reading 2 Timothy 1 especially verse 7.  God doesn't give us fear or anger or any negative emotion.  He gives us power, love and a sound mind.  It is me who needs to decide to be happy in any circumstance.  It's finding power through the spirit to preach what I know.  It's feeling peace even though I don't know what I am doing.  It's trusting God that He is in the details and He will not only tell me what to do, but how to do it.  I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth it gives me.  Christ is the Truth and Light of the world and to that I can testify in His sacred name, Amen.

Con Amor,

Hermana Stoddard

This mango is as big as my face!!