Oh the weather outside is frightful....but the car heater is so delightful

Hey everyone :)

Your favorite missionary is safe and sound and COLD. Preparation day was changed this week for Sister Hurst and I so that we could attend the temple. :) Man oh man oh man. I am so grateful for the peace that can be felt there. I couldn't stop smiling the whole time we were there. My face hurts a little bit now ;) haha BUT ITS WORTH IT.  The temple -to me- is a place where I can see myself -for just a moment-the way that God sees me. How amazing is it to know that we are children of God with the divine potential to become like Him, our loving Heavenly Father. We can do this through living the gospel of Jesus Christ and following His example. Much easier said than done, but possible :)

This week was a great one :) wanna know why? I'll explain.
No...there's too much....lemme sum up. (NAME THAT MOVIE)

-Last Monday I got to play volleyball :) like...real volleyball. Apparently my district leader is going to play pro? Uhhh. Hahaha. It was wonderful :)
-Sister Hurst got sick...and I spent most of the week paranoid that I would get it...and then be down again for another 6 weeks. Ah ah ah. Lots of praying and LOTS of Clorox wipes. Hahahahaha annnnnnnd guess what. Miracles happen because I haven't gotten it! WOOT.
-We had an awesome district meeting last Wednesday all about Christmas and how to spread JOY. Ah, I love being a missionary during this wonderful season.
-We worked in the mission office twice this week :) oh my heavens. I'm pretty sure I'm the luckiest person on the face of the planet. The office staff is THE BEST. They just love the missionaries so much and do SO much to keep the work rolling forth.
-Jesse won't meet with us anymore :( #stupidsatan Pray that he will read the Book of Mormon.
-Quote from my journal on Friday "How crazy is it that I can be so happy even though I feel like I've been hit by...multiple trains"
-Found a bunch of new investigators using the #asaviorisborn video!
-Wedding and a baptism next month! Matthew and Marci. They've been meeting with missionaries for a loooooong time, he's a member. Marci is great. They're so ready.
-Went out to broad view to teach an active member lesson. Ummm YES. IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND I LOVE IT. :D the stars were perfect. It reminded me of St. Iggy. :)

Monday: Elder Baird (office missionary, vehicle coordinator): Hey sisters. I have your new car. Can you come pick it up?
Me: ummmm Elder Baird. You know it's snowing outside right?...like snowing a lot. You're going to give us a 2016 Nissan Rogue....in a blizzard....ummmm....
EB: YEP! I trust you not to crash it. And even if you do...you'll only have to walk until April.
Me:.................
Hahahaha Elder Baird is my favorite. We didn't crash the car either. Soooo WOOT.

SO. MUCH. SNOW. AH. ITS CHRISTMAS
Also. Christmas zone conference. AMAZING. Lots of music, talking about Christmas, and A LOT of laughing and smiling :) my favorite things! :) wanna hear the best part? So, we had just finished eating lunch and taking pictures, so everyone was just kind of chatting when all of the sudden.....there's this loud shouting...and I'm thinking.."alright what hooligan Elder is goofing off this time" when to my surprise.....PRESIDENT WADSWORTH comes SPRINTING across the gym yelling some nonsense about how he had great news. "NEWS. I HAVE NEWS. SANTA IS COMING AND HES TRYING TO LAND HIS SLEIGH BUT HE CANT HEAR US SO HE DOESNT KNOW WHERE TO LAND! WE HAVE TO SING REALLY LOUD!" *commence singling jingle bells* and THEN. Elder Topham (one of the assistants) jumps from behind the stage....in an elf costume. Hahahahahaha President: "SEE! I told you he's coming! That elf fell out of the sleigh!" Everyone was laughing and having so much fun annnnnd then Santas helper aka Elder Nuffer ho ho ho'd his way into the gym and allllll the elders ran to go sit on his knee. The sisters awkwardly gestured from an acceptable distance ;) hahahaha

It was great fun. :) maybe one of those you-had-to-be-there-moments ;)

Out of time! Love, Sissy Fletch

 

Trying to look cute going to the temple.

Nbd. Right before the snow hit. Our excited faces because it SNOWED!                       

Just casually heel clicking in my space boots and a skirt.

 Good ol' Papa Johns:)

Ambushed

Hey howdy hey!

As I was pondering on what to say in the group email this week I was reminded of a song from one of my favorite Broadway musicals, Little Women. The Professor is attempting to respond to a letter from Jo March and his musings are much like mine are today. :) "You ask how I am. And so, how am I? My days are the usual days, I wake up I go out, time goes by."  Time is flying faster and faster the longer I am on my mission. Although the days mesh together and my memory of the week’s events is oh so very muddled, there are a few that I wanted to share with y'all :)

Experience 1: We were ambushed by a preacher earlier this week. Haha that was an experience. We had no idea who he was until he sat us down and started to rattle off what he "knew" we believed and how the bible says we are wrong. It was so hard to sit there and listen to him and try and understand and have love and compassion for him. I think there really is a seed of desire in him to know the truth; he just is being blind to the answers. He said he has read the whole Book of Mormon but he just couldn't get past the lack of physical evidence. He also couldn't believe that we have the potential to become like God and that we can be with our families forever. Ugh, that one hurt to hear. I am SO grateful to have knowledge of eternal families.  And hearing him not believe in that? It solidified my belief more. I didn't say much the whole time we were there, Sister Hurst was responding wonderfully and I was much too cranky ;) haha but when he had said his peace, I point blank told him that we had been called by a prophet of God to share what we know, and we know that our message is true. For the first time that entire night, I felt the spirit come flowing into the room we were in. Sister Hurst and I told him that we would study some of the concerns he had and email him some sources to look at (we didn't think it was a good idea to go back quite yet ;) ). We encouraged him to continue praying about it. It was kind of a crazy experience. It helped me to solidify my testimony of the restored gospel. It's true it's true it's true :) SO true. :)

Experience 2: Wanna know what my jam has been this week? "Have I done any good in the world today?" by Alex Boye. Oh my heavens. SO GOOD. Sister Hurst and I had it on constant repeat for a few days. That being said, the words have taken a new meaning with being a missionary that I wish I would have noticed long before my mission. "There are chances for work all around us now, opportunities right in our way. Do not let them pass by saying sometime I'll try, but go and do something TODAY." Each time I question whether or not I should knock on a door or go and talk to someone, that line of the song comes to mind and I immediately find the courage to act. I have felt the spirit with me so much more as a result.

Experience 3: we were planning on watching the Christmas broadcast at the stake center, but when we arrived 2 minutes before 6...no one was there. Ahhhhh. "WE ARE GOING TO MISS MOTAB!" Hahaha literally the first thought we had. We went into speed mode (without actually speeding...cuz...yknow....we're driving the Lords car.) parked the car and RAN to our apartment just in time for the opening prayer. Haha never a dull moment ;)  I loved the broadcast though. My favorite part was Sister Burtons talk. She quoted the primary song, "He Sent His Son" my absolute favorite primary song. "How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness? He sent his Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness." The Savior is the Prince of Peace. In this crazy world He truly is the only one we can turn to for true peace. I encourage all of you to remember in your prayers to ask for peace and joy during this holiday season, he will help you to find it :)

I love you all so much! The nostalgia of the Christmas season brings a smile to my face. Hearing familiar carols and seeing families together reminds me of my family back at home and makes me SO grateful for the knowledge of eternal families. Telling everyone about our Savior, Jesus Christ is the only thing I want to be doing at this time of my life. Like the angels telling the shepherds of the birth of the Savior, I too can "bring good tidings of great joy to this people".

Love y'all,
Sister Fletcher :)

We matched playing podball. Hahaha 

We decorated the tree in the mission office! Pictures of all the missionaries as ornaments :)

So. Many. Sweets.

 Biking in Billings. Brrr.

 

The temple :) things got crazy, so we can't go this week, but hopefully soon :)