Week 39: Greetings from Seattle

Dear Friends and Family,

          

           Hello, hello! How art thou? So much has happened this week! First, everyone is so curious about how p-days go here. Honestly, they are just as busy as every other day. If we are lucky, we can wear pants or sweats for 30-60 minutes while we are in the apartment just before p-day ends at 6pm. We are normally running around getting groceries, getting the car washed and vacuumed, emailing, cleaning, all that good stuff. Then we try to do something fun like go out to lunch. Last p-day our Zone Leaders asked us to sacrifice and end our p-day at 2pm. Our plans kind of got messed up though. We had to go to the doctor whose office is across the mission so that was kind of an all day thing. The best part of it was the GPS was set on shortest distance, not shortest time, so we got stuck in major traffic in downtown Seattle. So that meant that we got some unplanned sight seeing in! We drove right passed the space needle and saw it in all it's glory. It was the first time that I have seen that much of downtown. I will have to come visit after my mission to actually experience downtown Seattle first hand. Apparently we were really close to Pike Place so that's cool.

          We live in a ginormous complex that is full of members and investigators. We put together a social gathering "get to know your neighbor" kind of a party in the complex club house. We invited tons of people and had desserts there. Not as many people showed up as planned, but there were some unexpected faces that showed up including a gentleman who we had a sort of Bible bashed with. He is a born again Christian who is very passionate about his beliefs and we are passionate about ours. Don't worry, it never really got into an argument. But he came to the party and ended up being a really cool guy.  We have so many fantastic members in this ward. One of them being Brother Joe. He was baptized 3 years ago. He went from being homeless to now spending all his time helping the homeless. He is basically the most charitable person I have ever met. He spoils us by giving us chocolate and meat...the necessities of life....obviously! 

          I love Hermana Norton! She truly knows the language of the spirit and follows those promptings. We had a cool knocking experience where we just felt like we needed to knock on certain houses and there were many people that needed our message. It feels good when I know I am in the right place at the right time. 

          We had a lot of meetings this week. I had a zone conference and a mission leadership council. There is so much that I learned and want to change about myself. It's the refiner's fire out here. Something that I need to work on is pride and selfishness...life long struggles. I want to become a more spiritual missionary. Instead of going through the motions, I want to go with the promptings of the spirit. Being obedient and being more like Christ will come naturally if I can always have the spirit with me and always follow it. 

          So our investigator Don is the best thing in my whole life! So so prepared! He doesn't care what anyone says, he always looks to God. Look up to heaven. We had the most amazing lesson/dinner with him and his fellowship family. We watched the Because of Him Easter video and had a mini testimony meeting all about Christ. The spirit was so strong!! These experiences are so indescribable...you just had to be there to know what I am talking about. Don has such a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and he wants to do His will. He is having all these great experiences with the Book of Mormon and getting so close to receiving his answer about it. We fasted and prayed for him a lot yesterday. This is why I am serving a mission. 

           I was able to go on exchanges this week with Sister Harvey. I went to her area which is in a poorer part of the city, so I felt more at home:) President Choi has talked to us about how there are 2 types of people:  prideful people and humble people. It's our job to make the prideful people feel uncomfortable so that they will be humbled and accept the gospel. The humble people need to see the light in our eyes and feel the comfort of the Holy Ghost to accept the gospel. I think it is easier for me to work with those people that have already been humbled and that need light and love in their life.  

          Well, it's conference time again! Spiritual Superbowl! And we are always on the winning team! I would like all of you to think of people you can invite to watch Conference with you. Invite them to listen to the words of a living prophet. Also watch this video at becausehelives.mormon.org. Pray to know who you can show it to. Spread the love! I know that this church is His church. I know that He lives and because He lives, He can be apart of our daily lives if we cry out to Him. I know this for a fact because I have recently seen His hand in my own life in a big way. I am learning to recognize Him daily and it has fed my soul. I love all of you so much! Happy Easter!

Week 39 Challenge:

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Stoddard

P.S. I am on page 133 of the Book of Mormon!

Week 38: Thrift Shop Shenanigans Plus Newsflash...I am learning Korean (not really)‏

Dear Family and Friends,

          This week has been one of a kind. I am learning so much from Hermana Norton. She is such a sweetheart and she has such great faith and endurance. She has been sick with a sinus infection, but she is just pushing forward and working hard. We are going to take a little field trip to the doctors today so hopefully all goes well. I also love her because she is such an amazing and selfless Sister Training Leader. She is always thinking of ways to serve the six sisters who we are over.

          We went on exchanges this week and I had the privilege of going with Sister Jeong in the Korean branch for 24 hours. She even named me Suh Karim. I have a Korean name!!! Yes!!! She is from Korea so she didn't have any problem teaching in Korean, but I just sat there and smiled. There were a few investigators that understood some English so I got to bear my testimony at the end. 

          I just have such a great love and appreciation, especially now, for all cultures and all people. I love serving in Seattle because there are people from all over the world here. I not only get to learn from them and their cultures, but I have truly found for myself, a witness to my spirit, that we are all children of God. I have learned to love all the people here no matter their background. That's something that Sister Jeong helped me come to realize. We were able to drive out to Duvall, which is more remote, but it made me feel more at home, more like Utah. That's one reason I love Cougar Mountain area is because there are mountains all around us. 

          Hermana Norton and I have an amazing golden investigator that we are working with right now. Don is on date for baptism on the 11th of April so please pray for him. Some people are just so ready. We had a church tour with him this week with some members and he came to church yesterday. What joy it brings to my soul! These are the moments that us missionaries sacrifice for, pray our hearts out for, and work so hard for. It's great!

          Something that we do on Wednesdays is volunteer at a thrift shop that is owned by an Episcopalian church. We have too much fun pricing jewelry, dressing manikins, steaming clothes and dusting the whole place down. We love it because we get to talk to a lot of people about who we are and the gospel in a more casual setting and we are making some really strong friendships there with the workers and the regular shoppers.  

          I am learning so many new things right now. A lot of these things are not "new" to my head. I have heard them my whole life and I understand what they are, but right now I am learning a lot through the spirit. When I learn the doctrine straight from the Holy Ghost, it clicks with my spirit and it finally makes sense to me in a whole new light. It's so hard to explain it. In fact, I think it's something that isn't suppose to be explained. It's something that we are all suppose to experience for ourselves to get that personal witness of truth and light. I have come to know for myself that these things are true and I invite all of you to do the same. Much love!

Con Amor,

Hermana Stoddard

P.S. Watch the Because He Lives video on March 28! 

Week 37: The Wealth of Seattle is Great

Dear Friends and Family,

          Wow, I am serving a whole different mission than my first 6 months. I am in Cougar Mountain ward which covers some of Issaquah and New Castle right by Factoria.

My new Apartment Complex complete with Spring Blossoms!

It's much more mountainous and hilly than my other areas. It's also much more wealthy than any of my areas. Rumor has it that it is one of the wealthiest in the mission, complete with many multi million dollar homes. It's much different that the trailer parks where I spent a lot of my time in Seahurst Spanish. A great portion of the people here are Asian. Lots of Chinese, Korean and a few Japanese. Many members and investigators are from China. I think China is being so prepared for the gospel, it's crazy! 

Invesigators Bin Shang with his son Alvin
Celebrating baby's 1st 100 days

          This week, President and Sister Choi invited all 8 sister training leaders to come to a meeting at the mission home.

Sister Choi, Bruening, Clayton, me, Norton,
Hales, Brooks, Bienfield, MacIntyer

It ended up being so amazing and it was just a simple luncheon. They made kimchee and Korean pancakes that were full of shrimp, clams, mushrooms, garlic, onions and carrots.

It was actually very good. President Choi even fed us some food from his chopsticks. He said that that's how he feeds his children so that's how he is going to feed us.

They showed a lot of love and concern for the sisters. They knew that the best way to help and motivate us was to show us love instead of giving a lecture like some of the Elders need. We felt so inspired after that to go and help and love the sisters we are serving.

Sister Bruening, Sister Beinfield & Hermana Stoddard

Roses from President Choi

          As a part of my assignment, I go on exchanges with 3 different companionships of sisters to help train them and make sure they are doing alright. We have already had some problems that we have had to handle, but these Sisters are so strong and it's truly a blessing to serve them. Hermana Norton is awesome. She is on her last transfer of the mission, but she is going to finish out strong. We try our best to speak Spanish with each other, especially because we got our hour of language study back. 

Stoddard y Norton

It rained super hard yesterday!

          Well, I am on page 112 of the Book of Mormon. It's teaching me a lot about how we are given the knowlege that we are ready to understand and accept in our hearts. I love this gospel and I know it's true. Please pray for our investigators Chen Xia and Don! 

Con Amor,

Hermana Stoddard

Sister Singing in the Rain

Week 36: Big News!...it was transfers

Dear Friends and Family,

          Last night around 9:35, I got a very unexpected phone call. Yup, I got transferred. I got the one transfer shaft!  I really wanted to stay in Edmonds with Sister Barrett at least one more transfer. We had just got the ball rolling there with many solid potential investigators. I will especially miss our investigator Michele. Ah, and the ward was just so great!  I just keep falling in love with the people in each of my areas. I love Sister Barrett as well. I couldn't have asked for a better greenie. We became such good friends and had way too much fun together. She started crying when we got the call, but she will do great in Edmonds. 

          Okay so two other surprises! Or more! So I am still English speaking. I have been moved to Cougar Mountain in the Bellevue South zone. And drum roll....Clark....I have been called as a Sister Training Leader (which is like a zone leader over the Sisters). I am serving with Hermana Norton. She is also a Spanish sister, but she has been serving in this English area for the last three transfers. This is her last transfer before she goes home so she is going to help train me to be a leader in the mission. 

          This week we had a car fast for one day. That meant we had to spend a whole day without a car. It was kind of nice, but tiring. We got to talk with LOTS of people on the street. We have spent much of our time finding so we taught almost 60 lessons this week just with knocking doors and talking to everyone we saw. We had a lot of awesome and solid potential investigators. It's just helping them make and keep commitments and progressing that's the problem. 

          I can't remember if I have told you, but we were teaching this 19 year old kid from China named Jerry. He is the most honest person I have ever met. He is very talkative and has a very interesting perspective of the world.  At one point, he almost started verbally attacking us because he thinks we just say what ever the church wants us to say. I have never been so bold in my entire life, but I had a very spiritual experience as I bore testimony about why I am a missionary and how I have gained my testimony. The spirit was so strong in that room. Jerry apologized and when he said the closing prayer he basically repented for being rude to us in front of a group of people. It was awesome. Goal in life: learn to pray like Jerry does. Also, there are a lot of Chinese here interested in the gospel. One of them begged us to send missionaries to China. I think that China is getting ready to hear and accept this one and only true gospel in their lives. It's so exciting! It's going to be an amazing day when they open up China to missionaries.       

          President Choi also informed us today that he is going to go to General Conference so to not be alarmed when we him on the screen and not in our mission.  Perks of a Seventy being your mission president I guess.  

          My trainer, Hermana Boley, went home yesterday. It's starting to get weird. I am going to start being one of the older missionaries before too long here. Crazy! Well, next week I will have to let you know how this new area is....it's going to be fantastic. Adventure is out there!

With all my love,

Hermana Stoddard

Newly baptized members in Edmonds

Door of a member in Edmonds

Week 35: There is Sunshine in My Soul Today‏

Dear Friends and Family,

          First off, a shout out to all the cool people in my life that sent me birthday presents. You guys are da best! It was a very quiet, but memorable birthday. It's the only one in my life (I hope) where I will be away from friends and family, but I had my cute little greenie and a loving ward so no complaints.

It's just my conspiracy theory,
but I am pretty sure all members
are ganging up together to fatten all missionaries...
for what purpose, I am yet to find out. 

          Lately the weather has been real nice up here. Everyone's yard is immaculate.  I am not use to blossoms on trees around my birthday time. They always come out around my mom's birthday in April, but it's gorgeous. Last P-day we took advantage of the nice weather and went to downtown Edmonds. It's the cutest little thing full of shops and cafes. We went down by the beach and took some great pics.

Edmonds

Check out the cute birthday outfit!

          The best part of this whole experience was that we were walking along on the street and this lady pulls over. We recognized her, but totally forgot her name. We remember that we met her knocking doors 3 or 4 weeks ago. She was uber nice, like over the top nice. She let us in and we had dinner with her and her family. They were very interested in us and our church, but are very much into their own church. Anyway, she was so happy to see us and she wanted our number so that she could have us over again. She also said that she heard about us on Edmond Moms facebook page.  

          A little background to this story....about a week ago while we were knocking doors on a different side of town we met this lady Kim whose dad is Mormon. She was friendly, but we could tell that she didn't want us to be there. A lot of people are that way. They are all like, "Shoo, go away.  Go play with the other kids."  Anyway, we said a prayer with this lady and she got really emotionally about it. She said it was exactly what she needed. Well, yeah! We ALL always need prayer. We continued knocking doors and later that night we ran into Kim again. She was a ball of joy at this point. She ran up to us and said that she posted about us on the Edmond Moms Facebook page. We were like, "That's cool."  Later when we told our ward mission leader what happened he was in shock. He said, "Sisters, you don't understand how big this is. You made it onto Edmond Moms fb page? You are going to be famous!" Lo and behold, we are famous in Edmonds now. All these random ladies are like, "Oh, hi! you're the Mormon sister missionaries." "Yes, ma'am. Yes we are." You know the saying that everyone has like 7 minutes of popularity in their lifetime? Well, I think I just had those 7 minutes!

          This week we were talking to a member about college and our future lives. I told her my interest in Anthropology and Sociology. I told her that my dream job would be to get paid to travel and study cultures. She told me a FUN FACT: Rick Steves lives here in Edmonds and that her sister in law is one of his tour guides. She is living my dream job. I even saw his studio in downtown Edmonds. Not to get trunky or think about my future or anything, but I just knew that my mission would open some doors for me:) 

          Anyway, sorry for getting distracted..back to missionary work. Our investigator Michele is so great. We had more contact with her this week. She kicked out the guy that was staying with her and she is living the Word of Wisdom. Her whole apartment seems lighter, happier. She is having surgery today, but hopefully after she recovers, we can help her continue to progress. We also ran into a Buddhist guy from Croatia this week. He was very interested in our religion, particularly our relationship with God. He found it interesting that we think of God as a father figure and that we strive to have a father and child like relationship with Him. 

          I have been thinking a lot about the nature of God lately. I would be scared of God if I thought of Him as this lightning bolt and thunder and "I will destroy every living thing" kind of God. But I have come to know Him more. He is like my earthly father. Tender hearted, gentle, merciful. He wants the very best for each and everyone of us. He created beauty from the delicate wings of a butterfly to the roaring ocean waves. He is magnificent and personal. And He wants us to be like Him. 

My new favorite picture of Christ!

          I just finished reading page 90 of the Book of Mormon this morning. Gotta love those Isaiah chapters. I have been trying to find at least one deeper meaning everyday. Something that hit me was 2 Nephi 16:10. A lot of people want proof of spiritual things. What they don't realize is that that proof is all around them. We just can't sense that proof with our normal 5 senses. We have to not focus on the things we see, taste, touch, or hear. We have to feel. We have to feel with our heart in order to know of God. In order to receive true knowledge, conversion and healing, we have to learn to communicate with God through our heart. The best way to do that is to get in touch with the Holy Spirit because our spirit can talk directly to the 3rd member of the Godhead. That in itself is pretty cool. The Church is true because this is Christ's gospel. There is truth in all things, but this is the fulness of the truth. I can testify of that because I have seen, felt and experienced it for myself. 

Week 35 Challenge:

Well, that's all folks! I sent my love from Seattle and back.

Con Amor,

Hermana Stoddard

P.S. Today I have officially been out for 8 months! Almost half way, but who's counting? Not me!

P.S.S. Heads up...transfers is next week so I can't talk until Tuesday. Have a fantastic week!

Elder Randolf, Elder Searing (district leader),
Elder Ford, Elder Gerber, me, Sister Barrett

The District