Ohio, adieu.

I have so much anxiety writing this right now haha. I can't believe this is my last email home. Where did time go? I swear I just got here. Words cannot even explain how I am feeling right now.

This week has been fun!:) it was spring break so it was pretty dead... But there were a few people to contact so that was nice:) on Saint party's day I ate a bunch of treats my mama sent me haha:) delicious! So yeah pretty much that was my week! People weren't really able to meet. Last night we had a major creeper who followed us unto the bus. It was quite the adventure. But anyway this is my last email home so there is more I must talk about:)

I love being a missionary with all my heart and soul. Were the last 18 months the hardest of my life? Yes. It's hard to overcome the natural man. On days I was so sick, or dead tired, I would still go out and work. And I often ask myself why? What motivated me to do so? And truly it's the Atonement. How grateful we are for the knowledge we have of this gift! That we know how to open it up to us and use it. But sadly, many of our brothers and sisters know not how to use this gift or where to find it. Every person on this earth needs the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It's comfort, it's peace, it's the way home. Heavenly Father wants His children home more than anything. And I got to play a role in that! I am so so grateful! I love Ohio. I love the people here. It will always have a place in my heart. I've learned so much here about me, and who God wants me to be. Something I've learned is that I love the places most where I struggled the most. Where I learned the most. And Ohio definitely has that award haha. I love being a missionary.

I know Jesus the Christ lives. He is everything. He lifts us when we are down, He cries when we cry, he rejoices with us when we rejoice. I love Him. He is my best friend. I love my Father in Heaven. I'm so so grateful for these 18 months he has given me to be molded into who He wants me to be, into who He sees I can become. Everyone here has taught me something. Every door that's been slammed has taught me much, every tear that has been shed has taught me more. I'm grateful for all the hearts here that have touched mine. I'm changed forever.

I DON'T WANNA GO!! Haha but I know my time is done:) thank you all so so much for your love and support while I've been serving the Lord. I felt every prayer and appreciated all the notes and love!!:) I LOVE YOU!! See you Friday!

 Mine and Elder Segles death picture. #RIP

 Brutus wore green for St. Patty's day too!:)

 I'm "LUCKY" to have this girl as a companion:) haha:)

 Sister Ogeltree came back to visit!!:)

 And then we went to lunch with her and Gretchen!!:)ahh! So Good! Thank you Gretchen for taking us!:)

 I seriously love Gretchen!

 We also got Graeters ice cream (Ohio Speciality)

 Found this beauty walking down 12th Ave, haha

 Farewell OHIO, it's been real.  And you will be missed. Sister Slater out!

#hallelujah

Temple Tuesday was a hit!:) I love the temple so so much! I never thought I'd crave it.. But I do!! I find so much peace there. And this temple trip was my last as a missionary so it was very special to me. I received a lot of revelation, and God comforted me. I am so blessed and happy!

This week I got to go on lots of exchanges! I got to go with the sisters here on campus and also I got to go to NEWARK!! My home!! I love it there! We taught Tara and she is so cute and pregnant oh man I love it. It was weird cause it felt like I never left. I was with sister Bradford and we go home together.. So we had a yolo moment and went to Texas Roadhouse to eat. Holla! Haha it was much needed! Those rolls heal the soul. I loved seeing so many people there whom I've grown to love. Such a tender mercy.

So for exchanges president has given the OSU sisters a car so we could drive to Newark. It's a jeep and I'm in love. But anyway. The elders needed it for a special purpose so they asked if we could go back to the apartment pick it up and drive it to the institute. We were like sure! But they key was in the other sisters apartment! (We live in the same building). They were unable to get the jeep and were unable to give us the key to their apartment so they told us how they left the window open now their bedroom. Ok.. Sounds easy enough just climb through the window and get the car key.. But FALSE! They live on the second story haha. Good thing sister Heath is a cheerleader is did a one man stunt and boosted me up! I opened the window and crawled in. Team work makes the dream work. Meanwhile this guy watched the whole thing. We assured him we were just getting into our locked apartment haha. It was such an adventure. The zone leaders told us we are life savers.. They have no idea.

On the bus to the apartment we met a guy from Utah who grew up polygamist but got away from it and moved to Ohio. I had a bun in, so he thought we were polygamist too. It's always when I have a bun in!!! Ah!!! Anyway. He was interested in learning more so that was a cool experience.

Well.. This is my last full week as a representative of Jesus Christ. I am freaking out but ready to take on the week!! I love being a missionary!!

Everyone needs to check out the new video on followhim.mormon.org #hallelujah!! I love the videos the church comes out with to celebrate the birth and resurrection of our Savior. He truly does live, and through Him we can live again. In this life, and the next.

 Temple with my companion:) plus the photo bomb

 Temple with the zone:)

 Tara's son Anders! Love him!!!:)

 In front of the window we snuck through #win

The window itself haha it's a lot higher than it looks!

E.I.G.H.T.E.E.N.

Hellllooooo from the Great Ohio!! I hit s big mark this week.. 18 months. 18 months!!! What the heck??? Since when have I been a missionary for 18 months!? Ahhh!!! I had a freak out moment and had to get ice cream. My sweet companion even bought it so we could celebrate! I love her! I have seen many many tender mercies from the Lord this week which is showing me how aware He is of me.

Monday we went to Easton! My fav place! Went to Tiffanys of course lol. It was nice:) and I got to make a wish in a fountain! (Pictures below) and we went to Costco and got some delicious hot dogs mmmm! I've missed Costco! Thank you Springers!:) and at Costco we saw cute sister Bergstrom from the Newark Ward! #tendermercy. I gave her a big hug! I love her!:) she told me how she misses me in Nerk:)

Did a lot of contacting this week and contacted a young professor. He had a lot of questions about the BOM and it just blew my mind how many of them I was able ro answer. My knowledge has grown so much these past 18 months. Sometimes when I am talking I cannot believe it is even my words. I am grateful the spirit brings to my remembrance the things I need to speak right when I need it! So blessed!:)

At stake conference Ken came and sat by us which was a tender mercy! He is receiving the Melchizedek priesthood next week! So proud of him! He is so stoked! At Stake conference they asked people to come and bear their testimony. Ken was called up, with no notice. He shared his conversion story and testimony of the restored gospel. #tendermercy it was exactly what I needed. I of course cried! I just love the experiences you have as a missionary! The people you get to help come unto Christ! They change you!

I had a few other experiences this week which shows to me how aware Father is. I know He knows us by name. He knows our likes, and our dislikes, and he wants us to have joy. That is why we are here, to have joy. Through my mission I have had a taste of the joy He wants me to have. And I know as I am obedient and do what He asks, I will one day receive a fullness of that joy!

 Wish making action shots:)

 Cold Stone to celebrate 18 months!!:) Wahoo!:)

18 months where I have learned and grown more than I ever thought possible. I am, eternally grateful.

Faith is Action (sent by Ali on February 29th)

I remember last year when it was close to spring break and everyone was too busy to learn.. Well it's happening once again this year!! Haha we contact so much and not many are interested right now:( dang you agency!! The work goes on!!:) and I love it!! :)

We had zone conference this week and we were able to report on the goals we set! Sister Heath and I achieved most our goals but two! Which is okay! It was amazing to see the Lords hand I'm helping us achieve all the goals we did achieve. Father is just so merciful, and so aware of our wants and desires. If we put forth the work, and show Him we want it He will make it possible for us to achieve our goals. The ticket is putting in our part:) we must do work! Faith without works is dead!

At zone conference we began to sing the closing hymn when President stopped it and said no let's sing the mission song. We sang it every transfer meeting. He winked at me and we sang. And I sobbed. I knew it was going to be one of the last times I sang the song. All of us sisters just wrapped our arms around each other. I couldn't sing though. I was crying way too hard. Oh man, this whole going home thing is way too surreal. It's not fun. Not a fan. But the Lord is helping me!!:)

So yeah lots of contacting and things this week. But! On my run this morning I was in the zone. When I ran past a woman in a wheelchair. I said hello and my body just stopped. The spirit knew I needed to speak with her. She said hello back and I expected to ask for money. But she didn't! She told me her name was Katie and she asked if I could pray with her. I didn't have my name tag on (I forgot it) so it was so interesting that's what she asked. I told her we were missionaries, and we would love to pray. Sister Heath caught up to me and we said a prayer for Katie. I felt Gods love for her so strong. He truly is aware of all of His children.

We got to go to the temple with a recent convert this week for his first time doing baptisms. I hadn't been to the temple in forever so I was excited. The spirit was so strong in the baptistery that I cried. I'm grateful for the restored gospel, and I'm grateful for temples.

I can't believe February is over ahhhh! I love you all so much! Ps sorry in advance for taking like no pics this week, next week will be better!

 We were impressed with our crossed eye skills

This was a few weeks ago but it was really snowy

Déjà vu.

I feel like I've been having some major déjà vu this week. This time last year we had an urgency and accountability activity for a zone conference. I was serving in campus and it was the coldest time of the year. Fast forward to 2016. Serving on campus, and doing an urgency and accountability activity for zone conference, haha. So weird!! Except this year it was like in the 50's and 60's so I can't complain:) it's been warm!! I love it'd students be laying outside in the hammocks and I'm always just want to ask if I can join haha.

We have been out working hard and meeting a lot of cool people!! A lot aren't interested... But it's still fun haha:) campus is so fast pace! Everyone is hustling to class and there are soooo many students. Like 60,000 or something like that. And they are all crazy party kids haha. There is this bar called midway and kids were there all day Saturday! They were so wasted, just mocking us. I was literally living Lehi's dream. Some things I've come to learn on campus: hold to the rod and sober fun is the most fun #GoMormons.

Really though it's been just another week on the mission. I love it. Everyone keeps telling me how soon I come home.. But it just doesn't feel real. Like I've always been a missionary!! I never leave! That's how it feels at least.. And I'm okay with it haha:) I'm so grateful for all the prayers you send my way!! They are definitely felt. I know it's through faith and the Savior that I'm still able to work diligently everyday. I love you all!

 Panda time. This fortune explains the goals I've been setting lately...haha!

 My cute companion :)

 The district!

Comp study life.

 

I got to celebrate quite a few holidays this week!!:) it was super fun!! Oh, and super cold.

We contacted a lot. My fit bit told me I walked over 20,000 steps ins one day! Gotta love campus life:) we taught a few people, one being Sakura! The cutest little thing from Japan! She loved our message and came to church! She brought her Book of Mormon and pretty much looked like a member already:) we are excited for her! We are extending baptism for March!:) we also taught Brittany! For her first lesson we taught the Plan of Salvation and when we were done we asked if she had questions and she just said "I wanna learn more." It's amazing when I see the spirit help others remember things they've been taught before. We were taught everything before this life, and I love when simple truths come back to remembrance.

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!! The heat of the monkey!! Haha we had an activity and Elder Yeh (from Taiwan) taught us how to make home made dumplings! Mmmm! We made like a hundred for the activity, it was really fun!:) I've been really into oriental stuff lately! It's just so good! And it's way more fun to eat with chopsticks than with a fork! We also helped Sister Springer frost cupcakes for institute classes:) we did swirls on top and a few turned out.. But most ended up hideous haha. It was fun though:) they still tasted good!!:)

So for my second year on campus for Valentine's Day (we celebrated Friday) Gretchen took us to Raising Canes again:) the chicken strip place!! Man, I love that place:) it was a fun date:) then it turned into a blizzard outside so that wasn't as fun! But we stuffed ourselves so that kept us sorta warm? Haha then my mom sent me candy and stuff so I ate all that plus a bunch of cookies handed out in relief society. I made myself sick! But hey! It's all good! Haha a random creepy dude gave Sister Heath and I flowers so that was nice.

I love Valentine's Day! In my family it's a day to show love to each other!!:) so shout out to my amazing parents and my sissy! I love you both so much! And another shout out to Mr. and Mrs. Slater for being married 25 years!!!:) Happy SILVER Anniversary!!:) I'm thankful for all of you as well!

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." -John 3:16

I'm grateful for my Father in heaven who loves us so much he gave his only begotten son. His and the Sons love is the strongest we can ever feel. And he showed us that love in a way no one has ever done before. Happy Valentine's Day! I love you ❤️

 Making dumplings!!:)

 Frosting cupcakes!!:)

 Happy Chinese New Year:) love the OSU district! #weawkward

 #datenight thanks Gretchen!!:)

 And of course the classic photo booth :)

Love TO SERVE! (I love Sister Heath!:)

Hello OSU.

Well hello there, from OSU CAMPUS! Holla!! I'm back!!! Haha. It's crazy to be back. It took a minute to get back into the habit of contacting college students but it was all good:) I'm getting used to it now!

I had to say goodbye to one of my best friends:( Sister Meyers!!! I miss you!! I'm so grateful for her example to me! My new companion is sister Heath.. I awkwardly didn't get a pic with her yet.. Haha but next week for sure!! Anyway not much to report on considering it's only been a few days. But I love you all!:)

 Goodbye Sister Meyers!!

 I'm doing a heart...Because I LOVE the Buckeyes :)

Just kidding I did take a pic! Sister Heath is in the middle:) 

Nightmares.

Well, this week has been so crazy and exhausting! I will let ya know why! First off, my greatest nightmare came true! Sister Meyers and I make really stupid videos haha for example our Thumbelina one. We find it hilarious and we are like known through out the mission for making super funny videos. The sisters just love it! Key word: sisters. haha. At MLC President took Sister Bartons iPad which just so happens to have a lot of these videos uploaded on it. And he started to watch them!!! AHHH!! I was dying haha. It some videos he couldn't here so he was like "I will just put it on the big screen." Okay, all the elders were around haha. And I was just like President! NO! Please no!! It was literally my nightmare for anyone to see these videos besides sisters haha and Sister Daines grabs me as is all "don't worry! you're not going to marry any of them anyway!" And I was like "I know!" haha it was a picture perfect moment:) needless to say.. they saw all the videos we have made. From Phantom of the Opera, to Twilight, to Thumbelina. Haha in the end pretty sure President views us all differently but its fine:) It was hilarious! I am glad he now knows my true side haha.

I went on exchanges with sweet Sister Ali. I just love her!!:) But anyway, we were walking out of the apartment and she left the keys inside.. and the door was locked. haha life. I would love to say that hasn't happened to me before but...:) Anyway she was freaking out but I knew everything would be okay. Although it was night.. and we were locked out haha. The apt manager wouldn't answer so finally we were like um ok we are going to have to have a sleepover in Urbana with the other sisters. Luckily, we had the car keys. A member was driving us back to the apartment after a Book of Mormon class when I asked Sister Ali if any of their sketch neighbors could pick a lock. She of course flipped out and the member was like I can. Haha he grabbed his little lock picking tools and totally got us back inside. #TenderMercies. I was sure grateful. Especially cause I left my wax pot on inside.. haha. God is so good!

Had two other exchanges this week after that one. Triple exchanges, I was tired. Haha. But the work must go on! Gretchen took us out to lunch to my new fav restaurant Tropical Smoothie Café. I thought it was an Ohio thing but turns out their is one is Orem! Holla! That made me excited! And Gretchen made me excited! She is just the cutest ever:) I love her!

We had a chapel tour with our investigator Miah and it was incredible. He is agnostic, but likes learning about different religions. when we went inside the chapel the spirit was so strong in there. He felt it so much he began to cry. He expressed to us he didn't know what was wrong cause he never cries! But testified of God's love and that he was feeling the spirit. He said he had never felt that way before. We left him in the chapel to pray and he came out and told us he had an incredible experience. While praying he asked of God was there. He then heard a knocking at the podium. He asked God if that was his answer and when he did it started to pour rain that he could hear. It trickled away and he asked god if he was sure that was the answer and it started to pour rain again. Sister Meyers and I saw a little rain but not pouring rain. It was so cool seeing his countenance change right in front of us! To see him come to know the Father and feel His love. Miah while sitting in the chapel told us he never wants to leave. It was an amazing experience for all parties.

I wish I could say I get to continue to teach Miah.. but alas transfers have com.. and I am being transferred... to OSU, once again. AHHH I cant believe it! Exactly a year later I will be back haha. The Lord works in mysterious ways!:)

I LOVE YOU!!

 MLC!!

 Tropical Smoothie cafe :)

 Sister Ali! Love her!

 Exchanges with Sister Nissalke as well :)

 First and last district pic :(

 The Bohons!  She is the best cook ever.  We love them.

Gretchen and I #fierce

His name, forever on my lips.

I LOVE OHIO!! Seriously. This place is life. It has my heart! Something really really cool happened this week!:) we has a world wide missionary broadcast! The church has not had a broadcast like this in 10 years! It was so cool cause at the beginning of the devotional we sang "Called to Serve" and I couldn't help but think of the thousands of missionaries singing with me all around the world! Including my big sister of course:) I didn't know why they called this devotional.. I thought at first we were gonna get chastised haha but the whole thing was super spiritually up lifting! The theme was "teaching repentance and baptizing converts". And how baptism truly is the first fruits of repentance, they go hand in hand. Something I learned with all this is that when we are baptized God gives us many gifts, like the gift of the Holy Ghost, and a remission of our sins. Baptism isn't the remission, b but keeping the promise is so we obtain that gift! We must keep our covenants to obtain that remission of our sins:) so amazing how God works!

Something they talked about that I completely loved was to keep the name of Christ on your lips. Always. How important is that? His name should always be in our hearts, minds, and lips. He is everything, he is our Redeemer. He needs us more than ever to always be a witness of Him and to stand for Him. Missionary, or not. I'm so grateful for the Savior.

I milked cows this week and got to feed a baby cow! Cutest thing of my life. Also, our water heater went out haha. We couldn't shower for a while.. But no worries!! It's fixed now!:)

I LOVE YOU!

 BABY COW!! He was the cutest ever, eating right out of my hands!

We took our investigators cigarettes.. They smell nasty.

We dressed up as Thumbelina and Prince Cornelius. Haha our companionship is on point!

This week was a regular week! Got to go on exchanges with Sister Detamore again that was fun! We were driving to dinner and had a sudden urge for a cupcake...so, we got one, haha! It was a Gigi's cupcake and it was sooooo good and so cute! A plus:) Hahahaha the exchange was super fun though!:) and I love cupcakes:)

We also had interviews this week!!! We had an all day training for weekly planning! So that was fun haha. Took hours and hour and hours. We all got a little restless. Thankfully Sister Daines had games to play in between hours haha:) she thinks these things through:) I love the Daines with all my heart!:)

So many miracles this week of people letting us in to teach them! Probably letting us in cause it's cold.. But who cares! I love sharing the message of the Restoration !!!:) Jesus Christ's original church has been restored to the earth!! It's the greatest news on all the earth!! I just wish more would open their eyes and accept it. Good thing a loving Father gives us a chance in this life and the one to come. He is so merciful!!

We had a musical fireside this Sunday and we had a missionary choir. We sang "I Believe in Christ" and the choir director before we sang was like "sing your testimonies" I just love that! And we sure did sing our testimonies! The Spirit was so strong and through song we testified of the divinity of the Living Christ! The gospel is the best!!:)

Well, I love you all!

  

 80% frosting 20% cupcake

 We were laughing because the boy running looks like a little Jewish boy!

My companion though:)