Week 43: Chin-easy

Dear Friends and Family,

           This week was kind of weird because we had a zone conference and then I had a mission leadership council meeting and just lots of mission things going on right now. I am still a Sister Training Leader. It's a really amazing calling that I am quite fond of. It's also amazing, but scary, to work with all the leaders of the mission. I really love the sisters that are in my stewardship and I love opportunities to serve them. So yes, I am a little sad to still be English speaking, but I think I am definitely here for a reason. 

Hermanas Stoddard & Fowlkes

          I had a cool experience Saturday and Sunday that I am still trying to make sense of. Hermana Oliphant shared Isaiah 41:10 with me. That is the verse that inspired the lyrics for "How Firm a Foundation." Then I read two talks about the Atonement and both of them (this is all unplanned) quoted that hymn. We sang it for companionship study and then lo and behold it was one of the hymns we sang in Sacrament meeting yesterday. Obviously there is something that I am suppose to learn from it.  I am not sure what yet, but it did bring me lots of peace. And for all of you that really know me, I am such a hippy. I am all about peace!

          I have been studying about the enabling power of the Atonement lately. David A. Bednar talked about how many of us are familiar with the redeeming power, the power that cleanses us from sin. Not very many of us take advantage of the enabling power. I have a lot of weaknesses, as everyone does. I guess I subconsciously decided long ago that I was just going to put up with them for the rest of my life. What I realize is that I need to humble myself and give those burdens to the Lord and let Him work wonders with me. I don't have to live with them if it is His will for me to overcome them. I mean that's the whole point of life right? To become more like our Heavenly Father. He knows exactly how to do it, so I just need to let Him help me change and become better. 

          We have been meeting a lot of Chinese people lately. We have a number of members that speak Mandarin and Cantonese so they are going to help us build up the Chinese group that we have in our ward. It's so exciting! Knowledge that I gained about seven years ago when I went to China is actually coming in handy now. So crazy how life works! These Chinese people are so prepared to hear about the gospel. Please pray that we can continue to find Chinese people and that they will be open to listening. This will help us start to baptize and bring more and more people to our Heavenly Father.  I know I was called Spanish speaking, but I think I need to start studying another language....?

          Hermana Oliphant is in many ways similar to me. We are both quieter. She is very sweet and has a strong, powerful testimony. She loves languages so she is pushing me to speak only Spanish when we are talking to each other and she is having all these Chinese people teach us some Mandarin. Ummm, lets just say that Spanish is much easier!  But I just love people! It doesn't matter the religion, ethnicity, or anything else. People are just so great.

Hermana Oliphant's Birthday!

Companions Stoddard & Oliphant

          I think I have mentioned this before, but we volunteer at a thrift store once a week. The people there are so great! It's like a family. We dust shelves, price jewelry, straighten up the racks and steam clothing. My guilty pleasure is that they are normally playing some kind of Beatles songs in the background....opps! But we are creating a lot of friendships there and it's good to be seen in the public. We talk to a lot of the customers and they ask a lot of questions. I thoroughly enjoy it!

          Well, spring time in Washington is so incredibly gorgeous.  And good news, the sun is out and shining and its so beautiful! It makes me so happy! It doesn't rain as much as everyone says. It's beautiful! Alrighty, have a great week everyone!

Don't be jealous!

Con Amor, 

Hermana Stoddard

Week 42: But who's counting...

Dear Friends and Family,

Savanna Norton

          Can I just say that transfers stress me out! Plus I just had an incredible companion, Hermana Norton,who became a good friend of mine so it was hard to send her off to Utah. She taught me so much about selflessness and pure love. She loved me for who I am and listened to me. I learned that I can be happy with myself and not have to change for anyone, but for Christ. The best part is she taught me the language of the spirit and how to have fun (not be so serious), but still be dignified. I am just going to have to keep practicing everything I have learned. Also everyone, I am still English speaking! What? Yup, you heard me. I am still in the great, green place of Cougar Mountain. My new companion is Hermana Oliphant. So we are both still Spanish sisters serving in and English ward. The cool thing is that we had the same trainer (same mom), Hermana Boley so we really are "Hermanas" in the mission. 

          We had some crazy fun things happen this week. First of all, a few weeks ago we found this family while knocking who are so ready, so prepared. They grew up in Idaho and they know many Mormons. We took our ward mission leader over to have a lesson with them and when they opened the front door, they started freaking out. We found out that they all know each other because their kids are on the same sports teams. Golden. Instant fellowship. We taught them the Restoration. They are looking for a church, and the husband said he would be baptized if he found out it is true. Please pray for the Day family. There are going to be miracles here this transfer!

          This week we took our investigator Jared and his girlfriend Ivy along with their fellowship member, Brother Joe, to the Ensign Symphony in downtown Seattle. I have come to the conclusion that words go to our minds, but music goes straight to our souls. It was a great thing for all of us to experience. Unfortunately, they moved out of mission, but no effort is wasted right?

          The greatest moment of this week was going to the temple! Don, the man who use-to-be-an investigator but who is really a less active member, was able to find his great grandfather and be baptized for him. We also took Kasey who is a recent convert. It's really cool to see the temple and the ordinances performed there through the eyes of someone who was not raised Mormon. It truly is a magical experience that we take for granted sometimes. 

          I have come to know for myself that the things that I teach everyday are true. These truths are here to help us, to bless us, to make us happy. I know that families are forever, and that we have the gospel to bless our families. I am so beyond grateful for this knowledge. 

          So I am reading in Mosiah 8 right now. I think it's around page 165. Keep reading everyone! Also, let me know if there is anything that I can do for you. Are there any questions that you want to ask me? Also, I want to get better at using my prayer list this transfer so if you have anyone or anything specific that you want me to pray for, let me know. I love all of you with all my heart and have a fantastic week!

Con Amor,

Hermana Stoddard (still Spanish at heart)

Week 41: Spiritual Warriors

Dear Friends and Family,

   

          So I told you about our miracle with Jared last week, I think ( I really can't remember what I write in emails) but we had a great family home evening with him and a fellowship family. One of the perks of being in an English ward in Washington is that there are members that live really close to every investigator. We live in a big complex that is full of member families and investigators...it's a gold mine of greatness! 

          This week we visited a member who recently lost her leg and she is about to start chemo therapy soon. She is one of the strongest people I have ever met. She believes that she had to go through these hard things so that she would meet certain people. She is not afraid to share the gospel with doctors, nurses and the people who help her out at home. We all have our different struggles and challenges. They are very personalized. God knows what we can handle. If He trusts us, He will put us in situations, even if they are hard, so that we can touch certain people. I have come to really appreciate the master plan that the Master has created for each of His individual children. 

          In our church building, the Bellevue South Stake Center, they are putting in a Discovery center, only the 2nd one in the world. The first is in Salt Lake. But it's a interactive family history center. Herman Norton and I were able to take a less active member with us to test run it. It's so cool! It actually makes me want to do family history. I found out that I have an ancestor from South Africa, and one from Guyana, South America.  Who knew?  Also while I was looking at it, I pulled up one of my 4th great grandfathers and one of the consultants working there started freaking out and was on the verge of tears! She told me that he was her 3rd great grandfather. Lo and behold we are some kind of distant cousins. It was really cool. I also found out that Stoddard means horse breeder so, yeah, fun fact of the day! Family history work is awesome because when we do their temple work, we are literally freeing our ancestors from Spirit prison. That was something that I learned from the Holy Ghost this week. 

Investigator Zorin

          And then there is Don! We love him! and he loves us! Basically we have adopted him as our uncle. One of the best moments of my mission was this week. He was given the Aaronic priesthood yesterday! Wow. so great.

          Well, transfers is next week. Yay. No, I will try to have a positive attitude. Talk to you next Tuesday.

Con Amor,

Hermana Stoddard

Our Morning Running Trail

Week 40: April 2 played April Fools on me!

Dear Friends and Family,

       

          Wow! This week was packed full of amazing experiences. Words and pictures can't even convey the thoughts, feelings and adventures that I had.  This week was spiritually very powerful and motivating. Heavenly Father opened the windows of Heaven and it rained very hard on us this week.
          First of all, to explain the title, on April 2nd we had a lesson with Don, our progressing investigator. We were talking to him about getting baptized on the 18th when he started asking weird questions about how many times we should be baptized. Come to find out, he was baptized when he was 11 years old! So Don, the man, is a member! We freaked about and were in denial for several hours, but that's okay. We are just working on reactivating one of our best friends. We love Don. Everything has truly been put in place by God for us to meet him and to get to know him. Sometimes the Lord brings His lost Sheep straight to us.

          Other exciting news....We have a new investigator who is so prepared! He and his girlfriend were homeless for a few days, but a member took them in. That member is Brother Joe.

He is one of the most selfless people I have ever met. Truly incredible people here. We came to find out that our investigator's girlfriend, Ivy, is a less active member. The experiences that they have had in the last few weeks have humbled them and have helped them recognize God's hand in their lives. He is very ready to learn about the gospel and change his life. He loves the Book of Mormon and is on date for May 2. He told us that he recognized us as messengers from God and that we are his guardian angels. We are warriors, defending what we know to be true and fighting for the freedom of our brothers and sisters from spiritual bondage.

          Hermana Norton has been teaching me so much through small and simple means. One thing I learned from her this week was truly having fun while feeling the spirit and being dignified. It made me have a lot more passion and motivation for my purpose as a missionary. We had a picnic, went to a Thai resturant, went outside at 4:50 to attempt to see the eclipse, painted Easter eggs and many more fun adventures!  I really love her and we had way too much fun this week. Life is good.

Easter Crowns

          As I hit my half way mark this week and with General Conference, I have been spending a lot of time reflecting on who I am and what I want to be. The overall message that I got from Conference is that we need to always keep our priorities straight. We need to be spiritually awake and not just go through the motions like a robot. We have to live the gospel with passion. We don't just read and pray, but we do those things to receive answers from our Heavenly Father. That ties along with the strong theme of families. I honor, respect and truly love my family! Thanks for all that you do! 

Sisters at Conference

Week 40 Challenge:

Happy Easter! 

Con Amor,

Hermana Stoddard

The Isom's - our Easter hosts