It's gonna take work!

This week felt like it was a month...and it also felt like it was two days. Haha I really can't explain it! It's really frustrating.. We set up a ton of lessons this week and all fell through! Except our lessons with Tara:) of course:) but really, it's hard to see all these people reject or not care about the gospel:( as a missionary you have to keep an eternal mind set or else it can get really spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausting. But I love these hard times on the mission because this is when the Lord is refining me, and I am learning to depend more on Him:) 

We made homemade bread with Tara! She makes the BEST wheat bread. Grinds her own wheat and everything. I am converted, homemade bread for life. Which works perfectly because this member is moving and gave us her bread maker haha:) Sister Mecham and I had fun with that one:) we made "quick bread". The ingredients in it are pretty nasty so we didn't eat it all but we tried it and it worked!!! We were pretty pleased with ourselves:) future home makers right here:) oh, and she bought the cutest dress for her baptism! It's coming up! Eek!:)

Haha so we are teaching this girl Angela..well we were. She was walking down the street and waved at us so we went to talk to her. (The last time we went to talk with her she told is she couldn't cause she was too high. Nerk it.) anyway, she was all telling us how she has to tell us how she feels and Sister Mecham is all "Angela are you drunk?" She's was like yeah but I have to express myself while I'm drunk! She continued to tell us that the Book of Mormon does not testify of Jesus Christ. That she read some of it and it didn't talk about Christ. It was very interesting. She told us we were messed up and the whole time she was holding up two peace signs with her fingers. Haha oh Angela. We eventually just walked away, after she spit on Sister Mechams finger a little haha:) thank goodness for hand sanitizer. 

Got to go on exchanges with Sister Cale this week:) that was fun:) we talked books. It was a little bit of a trunky time haha. We talked about Katniss and Peeta, Lizzy and Darcy, Edward and Bella, it was a good time:) I love exchanges!!:) they are so fun! I get to know the sisters so well. Every sister is just so amazing and they all bring something to the work. I love it!:) 

Accomplishment of the week: I ran 2 miles. I have never done that in my life. Goal is to run a 5k before I go home. I will be accountable!!:) 

A HUGE BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT TO MY MOST FAVORITE SISTER EVER! You're amazing sissy:) 23 and a missionary tag has never looked so good:) good thing you're heart is locked on the mission or those Omaha boys would be all over you:) haha love you Savannah!!

Thank you for all you guys do for me:) your love and prayers do not go unnoticed:) I love it here in Ohio. Right now in my life I would not want to be anywhere else:) love you!!

 Sister Cale and I thought this garage was pretty sick:) 

 Our little homemade bun in the oven:) mm bread!:)

 #duckface haha thanks Kaleb for the Disneyland surprise:)

 Haha, so I saw these swans in the pond of afar so I grabbed my iPad to take a pic of them. I was looking at them through the screen and Sister Mecham goes "they're fake." Haha I had no idea.. But I took a pic anyway:) I was so excited to see swans!! 

#missionlife

It's been freakishly humid here these days... I legit have never actually sweat bullets before but now it's like dripping off my face! Ah! It's disgusting haha mission life!

Unfortunately Tara was out of town this week so we didn't get to teach her:( so sad! But it's ok there is always next week:) we did get to teach Leroy though! He is so awesome! He is hard core searching for truth. He is excited about the church:) miracles never cease here in Newark! The Lord is blessing Sister Mecham and I:)

This week we had to give a training at 2 sessions of interviews with President. The trainings were both four hours long so that was 8 hours of being with President and Sister Daines woot woot! Needless to say we started going a little crazy at the end.. Hopefully President and Sister Daines still love us haha:) and later that night we had ministering visits again with President so we were literally with him all day. It was fun though. My interview with President went great:) he is so amazing! I am so grateful for him:)

Went on exchanges with Sister Johnson this week:) so get this, we graduated together from AFHS. Did we know each other? Nope:) haha:) she came out with Sister McDonald! So I could've trained her:) she's so sweet I love her! It was hot that day and we biked.. All day.. I have never been so tired. Straight up! I was dying. I like never wanted to ride a bike again haha. But it was a good experience:) when I told sister Mecham she got all pumped to go biking.. Yay... Haha:) so we did on the hottest day of the year so far. And on our wonderful journey my tire went flat.. We were stranded. So we called a member, thank goodness for members! She picked us up and our bikes and fixed my tire for me they are so sweet:) and then they awkward moment on the bike ride home when my other tire goes flat.. Oh mission life. How I adore you. 

But really sister Mecham and I have seen many might miracles here. I know the Savior is beside me every step of the way. He is honestly lifting me most of the time because there is no way I could be doing this by myself. Time is flying and it scares me. Being a representative of my Savior is one of the most incredible things I have been able to experience. I know he loves me, and I feel that when I account to Him everyday and he lets me know that I did enough. 

This week my amazing mama had her birthday:) I truly am not bias but..

My mom is the best. I wish I could've been there to celebrate with you mom! But you were in my thoughts as I was biking all day.. Haha:) love you!

I love youuuuu!!!:) bye!:)

 Sister Johnson and I!:) proud to be a caveman!!

Flat tires for days.

Bible Bashin.

Why hello! Long time, no write? Haha:) I really do not have much to update on since I wrote you Wednesday. Mission life is the same. It's hard, yet so rewarding. I have actually been so exhausted lately haha. Yet somehow, I still have the energy to work hard everyday. The Lord is truly close to me, I can feel Him. He is the only one who helps get me through everyday. I love my older brother!:)

So, this week has been sort of a bible bashing week but both ended up being cool experiences. (for us!) So, first was with this guy, he was all bagging on the Book of Mormon. He told us he wasn't trying to fight but he was asking very probing questions. Eventually I pulled out the Mormon message testimony of the Book of Mormon by Elder Holland. When the video was over this guy had nothing to say. The spirit was so strong. How could he argue with a testimony? You can't. Needless to say we left with a return appointment and a smile on our faces.:) 

Another experience was with a Baptist Pastor. Those are always fun! His wife was so sweet and sat down on the porch with us to talk when suddenly this man came out and sat on his chair and was like "so what Jesus do you believe in?" I usually do not let bashing bother me, but that bash always hits me.. Because we believe in the same Christ everyone else does! I don't understand why people think we believe in a different one! Anyway, we answered this man with respect and told him we were not there to fight. This took him off guard, and he was like ohh I am not here to fight with you either. Ha. Yeah right. He asked really stupid questions, but the power of the Spirit came over Sister Mecham and I, we testified and when we did he had nothing to say. Eventually we testified of Christ and how this is truly His church the same yesterday, today, and forever. The man stood up and stormed in his house! haha. The power of being a missionary is so real. When I am talking with people I truly just open my mouth and it is always filled. I can't even explain what it's like.. But it's amazing!

So Tara is on date for August 8 and she is AMAZING!! She has the cutest little boy and we are just in love with him. She is truly what the ward needs. She's such a miracle! She is just loving reading the BOM and cannot wait for her baptism.:) The Lord does always provide! Patience is key! Which is the hardest thing to gain.. Haha:) but once we master it, we can accomplish anything.

3 Nephi 13:8- your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him.

Heavenly Father truly knows everything we need. He knows us perfectly. Trust him, and we will be blessed. 

LOVE YOU!

Bubble blowing at its finest!

Happy Birthday America!:)

What a busy week this has been!! Lots of exchanges, a holiday and its transfer week so that always makes it nuts. But hey, that's what mission life is!:) 

Went on an exchange to New Albany this week, and guess what?? It was with Sister Horsley! My mama. I love her!:) It was seriously so cool to work with her again. It's been too long.. Like 6 months too long haha!  But really, it felt like we were never not companions except it's cool cause now I actually know what I am doing.. Haha! Because lets be honest, no new missionary ever knows what they are doing!:) But, it was a really special experience. She goes home this week.. So crazy. Ahh! When she started training me she was 9 months out, and now I am a little more than that. Seriously, time flies. But we went over her goals for when she goes home, seriously the scariest thing. I never want to be a normal person!! Haha.

I also got to go on an exchange with another companion... Sister Currier! Ah! I love her:) It was like living that MTC all over again. We sang Disney music, and just talked about our missions. It was so fun!  And the best part...We were together to celebrate our 10 months! I cannot believe I have been a missionary for 10 months... Ew. Haha. But it was fun to celebrate it with Sister Currier:) she is such a sweetheart!

So a lot of people ask what missionaries do on the fourth.. And my answer: we do missionary work! Haha:) Here in Newark they celebrate on the 3rd...Don't ask why!?!? So we watched some fireworks on the third while getting ready for bed. But we did party a bit on the fourth. No one wanted to make appointments with us. But we did the photo booth, made treats to deliver to people, and just made the day fun! Lots of pictures will be inserted below.  A member made us home made Chipotle for dinner which was the best part! I had a hardcore food baby that's for sure.  It was for sure different than fourth of July's at home but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else!:) 

So miracle of the week. We really wanted to be led to someone seeking the truth. We have been working so hard and tracting like crazy. So on Sunday Sister Mecham and I both fasted that we would be led to someone searching. So in church pops in a cute little family! What?? Their names are Brandon snd Tara. We made an appointment to see Tara, and when we went she told us she has been taught all the lessons and she wants to be baptized asap. Uh.. What? Inside I was freaking out Haha. We are going to re teach the lessons but she is on date for August 1!! Ahh!! So long story short, the Lord does answer prayers. I have been praying all transfer to find someone..and the Lord took time to answer my prayers. But he does answer. He loves us, and he is always there.

Yet again, another servant of God man passed away. Such a bitter sweet thing. President Packer, you will be missed. 

Thank you for all your prayers!! I love you all and hope you had a good day celebrating America:)

 Matchy matchy at MLC:) President loved it:) 

 I love my mission mama! I'm gonna miss her!!

 10 months! We did it!! Eek.. Only 8 to go. 

 What's a holiday on a mission without a photo booth?

 I HEART AMERICA!

 Xoxo