Wow Moomie....

Goodness! Well, I won't even lie, this last week will not be hitting the Hermana Winfield hall of fame. It was good, since I'm on a mission and the Lord loves me, but it was a rough one.

First off though, can I say Mom that I LOVE your hair. I am not exaggerating when I say it is the best haircut I've seen on you. You look amazing! But of course, you are the most beautiful mother I know. And going to Seattle for 2 days? Dad, keep her on a tight leash.

And, Grandma, are you out there?! I didn't get an email from Grandma this week so I would just like to make sure she's okay.......maybe it's cause they're redoing the carpet upstairs? I sure hope so! Love you ga-ga!

1. One of the main reasons last week was not my favorite is because Sister B got sick. Poor thing. I felt so bad and there was nothing I could really do for her but pray and insist she take it easy, being the workaholic she is. She's feeling somewhat better but then......I got sick! Of course our companionship unity would go that far, we just can't help but share everything! So then I had to try not to be a hypocrite and take it easy myself......which was hard. Who wants to be in bed when you could be out preaching the gospel!? So one morning in the middle of this death, we looked at each other during companion study, completely exhausted and sick, and started laughing at how horrible we both looked (see #2 for evidence). But, we're both feeling a lot better and the Lord loves us so we'll be fine!

2. During my sickness on Saturday, we went to a baptism for the English ward and tons of missionaries were there and I had been so dead that morning that all I did was blow dry my hair......that's right, no makeup. Which I didn't think would make that much of a difference cause I only wear mascara and sometimes eyeliner. Well, I thought wrong. When we walked in the first elder that saw me, Elder Deony, immediately said, "Well hello no makeup!" Of course he tried to explain his way out of it and say, "No you don't even need makeup, I like the natural look better anyway." I just told him I was sick and that I wasn't here to turn heads anyway :) So then we sat down and in walks President and Sister Nelson. Of course, they would. And I had just painted my nails aquamarine (the mission rules changed and painting nails is okay......but who knows about aquamarine). And of course Sister Nelson would come sit right next to me. She realized I was sick and started finding drugs for me, she has a Marry Poppins bag, and then I apologized to President and told him I was sick and that I normally do get ready. So I sat there for a while wondering if they were worried I'd gone apostate. But President, knowing what Deony had said, turned to me during the baptism and said, "Sister Winfield, are you not wearing any makeup?" I just started laughing and Sister Nelson, not knowing the story, defended me and said, "Oh, she's so pretty she doesn't need makeup. Don't listen to him." After assuring President I had put on deodorant and brushed my teeth, the subject was dropped. I don't know why I just rambled on for this long about my personal hygiene, but in case anyone was wondering, I am wearing makeup today :)

3. The Mite baptism did not happen. Sad right? But we're hoping that they'll be ready by this Sunday or next. I love them so much and I just want them to be an eternal family!

4. We had a bunch of ward activities this last week. It's interesting cause growing up I never really saw the missionaries around but here in NYC, the church is still REALLY young and so the missionaries end up doing a lot of work with the wards. Which is fun, just different than I thought it would be. So we had Dia de Los paises.....aka Hispanic heritage day and everyone has been talking about this day for a long time......well, since last year's party. So people took off work to cook food from their country and we made hot dogs and cupcakes to rep USA. People laughed but our food was the first to go. There were some new investigators there and they really loved it so it was a hit! We also had the young women yearly personal progress thing and that was fun. Except for the girls and I had been practicing a song to sing and that was in the middle of my sickness so I could barely talk, let alone sing. Haha good times.

5. Last night something hilarious happened....but maybe you had to be there. I have these two moles on my shoulder/arm and Sister Mamon in her crazy Russian-ness asked me if she could cut them off. Uh, no thank you, I don't want you doing cosmetic surgery on me in our dirty, cockroach infested NY apartment. But she's been begging me for a while so I finally said yes last night. She told me to scream before she did it so I wouldn't cry as much. So she did the first one and it went fine..,.....the screaming did help. Then she did the second one but couldn't cut it all the way so she was trying to pull my skin off......so of course I'm laughing/screaming by this point. Then the phone rings and it's our district leader calling for this week's numbers. So I answer the phone as calmly as I can and walk to hand it to Sister B. But apparently he still heard some noise and told Sister B it sounded like we were having too much fun. And Sister B said, "Oh no, just Sister Winfield and Sister Mamon. They're doing surgery." Of course he asks what kind of surgery, and she tells him she's not allowed to tell or I'd hurt her. She should of just told him cause now he probably thinks we were doing liposuction with straws or something in our apartment. Gross. But, the spots have stopped bleeding and now I have 2 less moles on my shoulder :)

6. We have a mouse. Or maybe 2. The other night we're walking up the stairs and we open the apartment door and there is Mamon in the kitchen freaking out, spraying Raid on the microwave. The mouse was out running around and we tried for a while to catch it, including Mamon throwing a flashlight at it. Then it went into the stove and we turned the stove as high as it would go and waited in our study room by a hole I've seen it come out of behind the stove. It didn't come out and we finally gave up. But we all did get some good screams out of it and I had to pray kneeling in my chair that night.....just to be on the safe side.

7. You always hear missionaries say that there are some people that you were meant to meet on your mission and that it just feels like you were prepared to help them. That's how I feel about Hermana Pedraza (member in our ward) and her 28-yr old son Armand. They are SO amazing and I love them both so much. And we went and visited them last night and after we left Sister B and I were talking about how much Heavenly Father has helped us help them. I know they are one of the reasons I was called to NYC and I am so glad I can help them in whatever little way possible. There are so many good people here.

8. Yesterday we went and had lunch at a house where this one family lives and they make up about half the ward. The Mom, Hermana Rios, is about grandma's age and she has a daughter, two sons, and 1 daughter-in-law (divorced but still hangs with this fam) that live in the ward. Hermana Rios is the RS Pres, her daughter is the YW Pres, one son is in the Stake Presidency, and the other son just got called as the YM Pres I think. Anyway, I LOVE all of them and they all have kids and the house is crazy on Sundays. It felt like home and I loved being there. We had the best guacamole EVER and don't worry Dad, they told me they'd teach me how to make it.

9. Last Monday we went and played soccer with our zone. And I put on my Brenna attitude and went out on that field to win. You should have seen it, it was crazy. I headed a couple of balls and beat my district leader on a ball fight. I also got a ball kicked right in my eye, my legs, and my arms. And my district leader kicked me in the shins.......we got a little competitive. I think that's why they tell you to take it easy when playing games on the mission. But we won and I definitely held my own. We were going to play again today but some of the Elders were "busy" aka chickened out so some of us are going to graffiti park after emailing instead.....stay tuned next week for pictures.

10. Well ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the spiritual thought of the week. This week I thought about how I just wish I could be better and I was really focusing on all my weaknesses. So this morning I had a President Hinckley moment and thought, "Forget yourself and go to work!" Gosh, sometimes I'm so self-centered! And we all know that the best way to feel better is to stop being so selfish, so I thought about 3 ways I can work harder and stop being selfish. Here they are:

(1) Gratitude. This is SO important. Almost all bad days can be fixed by getting on our knees and thanking Heavenly Father for what we do have and not asking for what we don't. D&C 59:7 says "Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things." A few things? Some things? Sometimes? Some days? ALL things. Everyday. My goal this week is to recognize what the Lord has blessed me with, because it is a lot, and stop worrying about what I don't have. President Monson is right, "We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues." It my testimony that we can and should fight against ingratitude. Choose to have an attitude of gratitude.

(2) Service. It's really hard to worry about yourself if you're thinking of others. Two Mondays ago I was having one of those self-centered moments. That night we went to a members house to have FHE with them and I was looking at fish in a fish tank with their little girl. She is so innocent and young and said, "Aren't the fish so fun?" As I knelt at this fish tank, I realized how many beautiful things there are in this life and how many times we miss them because we're too busy focusing on ourselves. The spirit really spoke to me in that moment and told me where true joy comes from--treating others as Jesus would treat them if He were here. Choose to be God's helping hands among His children.

(3) Share. For me, this came more with speaking to others about the gospel. I really only have such a short amount of time to be a set-apart servant of the Lord but we can share what we have with everyone around us. It may not be some big preaching in the grocery store for the rest of you, but it might be a simple and heart-felt hello to someone on the street, a nice-note to someone you don't usually pay attention to, a pray for someone you don't normally pray for. Heavenly Father has given me so much and sometimes I selfishly keep it all to myself. Choose to be more of a giver, and less of a taker.

I know the gospel of Jesus Christ will bring us back to our Heavenly Father if we will follow its precepts. We can be better today than we were yesterday. I echo President Eyring when he said, "Hard as things seem today, they will be better in the next day if you choose to serve the Lord this day with your whole heart. Your circumstances may not be improved in all the ways which you desire. But you will have been given new strength to carry your burdens and new confidence that when your burdens become too heavy, the Lord, whom you have served, will carry what you cannot. He knows how. He prepared long ago. He suffered your infirmities and your sorrows when He was in the flesh so that He would know how to succor you."

I love my Savior and I know that He lives. My prayer is that you can all feel that truth more in your lives this next week.

Love the mish, be the mish
Hermana Winfield

Yes......another amazing week in the life of a missionary!

Hellooooooo fam!

Well, I'm not gonna lie, I'm having a hard time right this second concentrating in this internet cafe because there's this guy on the phone talking to some reporter. Sister B and I can't help but listen in and it's actually quite interesting. Long story short he was arrested for robbery or something but it's a setup and they're building this case against some bad cop and the press is getting involved and there were guns and he's trying to lay low and they're building this story. And of course, he has this "business partner" he needs to get a hold of and he's a "cab driver" during the days. Wow totally a mob leader. Living in NY is WAY better then TV.

Okay, back on to spiritual things! Basically this week was one of the best weeks I've ever had as a missionary and definitely in the top 20 of my life. Good stuff! I have felt the Lord closer with me every minute of every day.......which is hard when you're living in Sodom and Gomorrah, I mean NYC (speaking of the world, the "cab driver" just switched to a phone call in Spanish. He would. Unlucky for him, I understand everything he's saying. He cousin has some information to add to some police report that no one else knows about. And he had a dream 2 days before the robbery that cops were going to steal his "rent" money. Boom baby.)

One quote that I loved this week talked about what one sister said to her companion when she was discouraged.

"Every dispensation for 6,000 years has ended in apostasy. Not this one. We are preparing for the Second Coming and we are not going to fail." That pretty much sums up how awesome my week has been. But if you're still not convinced, I'll give you a top 10 :)

1. Package and letters! This week was like Christmas! I got Mom's package on Saturday and a letter from Beth and from Grandma and from Danielle and from Lyndsey and from Aunt Di! Can you say spoiled? Beth, I'm gonna email you a in sec, Danielle and Lyndsey, I wrote you this morning. Grandma, I LOVE you and I will try and write you this afternoon if I have time. I just always know you're patient with me and are happy with whatever I have time to write :) Aunt Di, I LOVED the picture and it's up on the wall in my study room! Hopefully I'll write you back soon as well.....thanks for being patient with me. And tell Ab's I loved her poem and she is right on about NY! Mom, you're getting your own separate email so be patient :)

2. Dude, another interruption for cab driver. Hopefully they leave the cafe soon. They're meeting the reporter in his cousin's restaurant to sign an agreement in 30 minutes. Then it's going all over the news tonight I think. I'll probably be a famous witness, no big deal.

3. Piano and Singing. Well, the piano went eehhhh. I rocked the first song and the sacrament hymn went better than expected but the closing hymn crashed and burned. Heavenly Father just wanted to leave me on a humble note :) The singing was fun. Saturday night for the reception we sang a combination of Families Can Be Together Forever, When There's Love at Home, and I Am a Child of God. The Elder that played the piano for us is AMAZING and the spirit was so strong. I really felt like angels were singing with us and I saw a lot of nonmembers really paying attention. Sunday I had a solo party for I Believe in Christ, which the notes are different in Spanish, so that was kind of embarrassing but everyone pretended it was good and was nice to me about it.

4. The other day I noticed that Sister B had an empty zip lock bag in her backpack and she said, "Oh yeah, that's for when people feed you too much. You just shove food in there when they leave the room." HAHAHA apparently she's used it before. I probably need to get one soon.....especially when a member made pig feet yesterday. I just don't roll like that, sorry.
                                                   Sis. B and I....I love her!
5. We went to a baptism for someone in the English ward on Saturday before the reception and it was so good. The guy's wife is already a member and she gave a talk and could barely get the words out. The only other people there were the missionaries. It was so simple and humbling and really made you recognize what's important. I LOVE it when people follow Christ. Christ lives and loves us!

6. The wedding reception was for a couple in our ward that were sealed on Saturday. They had a fireside for everyone and then just ate afterward. They got up and bore their testimonies about the gospel and literally invited everyone to talk to the missionaries and learn how they can have the joy they have. Wow. Most of their family is nonmembers. The members here just cherish every church experience and make it so meaningful. I will never again take for granted what a blessing it is to make covenants with the Lord and be an eternal family. I am so glad I get to be with all of you forever!
                                                                  At the reception!

7. This point gives props to Sister Cronin. We've been working with the Mite family (not sure if I've mentioned them before). Their 17 yr old daughter is a member and neither of them are members but they've been going to church for a year and had a million sets of missionaries working with them. Hermano Mite has a baptismal date for this Sunday but his wife just has something holding her back and we have not been able to help her. So we'd really been praying about what we needed to do and I had the thought come to my mind to do a silent lesson. Sister Cronin did these in seminary and I loved them. So we planned a silent lesson all about the Savior and afterward she gave me a huge hug and said, "Thank you so much that was beautiful. I loved it." She's a very quiet person so it shocked us. And when we saw her at church yesterday she asked when we wanted to come over this week. The Lord truly is aware of our needs and the needs of others and if we are willing to listen He can tell us how to help those around us. Thank you Sister Cronin! And girls, pay attention in seminary!

8. So Sarah* is one of my favorite members in the whole ward. Her husband is awesome and so are all their kids. But Sarah's dad is a horrible person apparently. He left her mom but wouldn't divorce her and now has 2 other kids with Jane*. And Jane has been going to church for a year and has been with this man for about 20 years but he refuses to get divorced from his first wife because then he'll lose the land he owns in Honduras. So she can't get baptized because she's breaking the law of chastity because her husband won't get a divorce. And then we find out the other day that he now has gotten some other woman pregnant. And he's probably 60 or 65ish. Ew. But anyway, Jane is AMAZING and we love her. We've been visiting her and maybe now she's ready to move out away from her husband so she can get baptized. She's really been opening up to us and we just sat and cried our eyes out with her the other day. Sister B and I were talking about how you really can't judge people based on their circumstances. Here is someone that isn't keeping the commandments and she knows she should. But she's trying and her life is so hard and Heavenly Father knows that. We can never know what people are struggling with inside when we judge them from what we can see. I love her so much and we're praying Heavenly Father will help her make the best decision for her life.

9. Well, this point counts for 9 and 10 because it's scripture related and that's always twice as important! This week, as I said in the beginning, has been one of the best weeks but one of the most exhausting. Sister T that lives in our pad told me this things her trainer once told her: "Sometimes the Lord, through our trials and challenges, allows us to hit rock bottom just so we know that the rock at the bottom is Him." This week, I have been so grateful for our Rock and Redeemer Jesus Christ. He truly is the reason we can rejoice during our trials.

And there was another quote I read in a talk today that I liked as well. It says, "Joy is not a stranger to pain. We may not feel deeply enough to know joy unless our hearts have been hollowed out by sorrow. A heart may not be big enough to know real joy until it has been stretched and pulled by trials and hard things. In 2 Nephi 2:23 we find this phrase: “having no joy, for they knew no misery.” Our capacity to feel joy actually increases as we righteously endure our pain." Given that statement, I would welcome trials! The harder things appear, the more opportunity there is to improve our relationship with the Savior and be happy now and in the future!
I can say that I know true joy as I've seen others come unto Christ. I am SO thankful for trials and when we have Christ, they really turn into blessings!

And for those of you that are struggling, don't give up! Every good thing the Lord has in store for you will come to pass. I have seen that happen in my life and I know that the Lord will keep every promise He has made to us. And if you can't my word it, take Mormon's word:

16 Behold, are not the things that God hath wrought marvelous in our eyes? Yea, and who can comprehend the marvelous aworks of God?

17 Who shall say that it was not a miracle that by his aword the heaven and the earth should be; and by the power of his word man was bcreated of the cdust of the earth; and by the power of his word have miracles been wrought?

18 And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty amiracles? And there were many bmighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles.

19 And if there were amiracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he bchangeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles.

21 Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, awhatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this bpromise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.

25 And whosoever shall believe in my name, doubting nothing, unto him will I aconfirm all my words, even unto the ends of the earth.

27 O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. aDoubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and bcome unto the Lord with all your cheart, and dwork out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him.

Christ lives, He loves us, and He will bless us, today and forever. I testify of this and pray for you all every day. Have a great week and God be with you until we talk again!

Love the mish. Be the mish.
Hermana Winfield
*names have been changed for confidentiality :)

WOW!

Well, I don't even really know where to start! This week has been crazy but I think I good crazy.....I'm still deciding! lol

1. Alyssa got baptized! It was actually a train wreck but she got under the water and that's all that counts! It was hilarious because in her baptism interview with our zone leader, he was asking her all the questions and one is if you've commited a serious crime. Apparently she got all upset and said yes. He was shocked and said, "Oh, would you like to tell me about it?" Haha she stole some of her friends money to buy ice cream. We told her to repent and she'd be fine.

2. Uncle Wally, thanks for the money! My companion and I have been living the high life. And funny enough, right when I had the envelope in my hand it flew out of my hand into the street. I just looked at my companion, and then I ran for it. It was worth risking getting hit by a car. Totally worth it. My companion was laughing at me that I would risk everything for this envelope. THANK YOU!

3. We were invited to PEC this week and it did not really go smoothly......long story. But we were trying to be optimistic so on the walk home we didn't really say anything. Then finally Sister B says, "So, what did you think of the meeting?" and not wanting to be a downer I said, "Oh, I'm still processing, I'll tell you in a minute." And then she says, "Well, I don't think it went well at all." I started laughing and we admitted how horrible it went. So we bought ice cream and tried to cheer each other up.

4. The Mite family is commited to be baptized on the 24th. We'll see how that goes because they have a lot of problems to work through until then.

5. The other day we were walking home and all the sudden Sister B said, "Oh man, do you see that!?" We have an elevated train in front of our apartment and behind it. And we were walking under the bridge for the elevated train behind us. So I looked back and all I could see were two cop cars. Well, apparently there was a body bag and the police were taping everything off. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, my first death outside my apartment. I'm sad they died but also glad to see that stereotypical New York City has not let me down.

6. We like to make really corny church jokes. For example, Saturday night Sister T (who lives in our apartment) was asking me a question and for some reason my answer was, "Well, I believe in Jesus Christ." and she gave me a surprised, "No!? Really?! When are we going to celebrate?" And I said, "Tomorrow. For 3 hours. It's called church." Haha well maybe you just had to be there......or maybe you just have to be a missionary. But we thought it was pretty funny :)

7. The English Elders called and told us that a member had called them and said, "Oh, I have friends I want you to meet." So they went over and it was a lady and her 5 kids. And she told them, "When can we set a date for us to be baptized?" WOW. The Elders were dumbfounded. Miracles do happen and Heavenly Father loves all of His children!

8. On Sunday we had no one to play the piano for sacrament meeting. Sister Unga always played last transfer and now there's no one that nows how to play. So we sang acapella. So after the baptism yesterday Bishop came up to me and said, "Sister Winfield, we're going to need you to play the piano next week." And I said, "Oh, but Bishop, I don't play the piano." And he said, "Well, you're a missionary. Can't you do anything with the Spirit?" So yep, I'm now the ward pianist. Pray everyone. Pray hard.

9. I've been missing Mr. Cats lately. He is this guy that gets a million cans of cat food and feeds tons of cats by the chapel. And I haven't seen him in a while. I hope he's okay.

10. Besides being a pianist, I'm also a professional singer. A member in our ward and her husband are getting sealed this Saturday and she called me last night and asked if I could sing at the reception. Uh? I don't sing. But apparently, now I do.

Shout outs this week go to: Mom, Dad, Grandma, Unlce Wally, Aunt Di, Braytons (I LOVE you guys!), Chantel, Uncle Don and Fam, Kaly (wow, your note could not have come at a better time.....thank you!), Em, Beth, Brenna, and last but NEVER least, Bug!

Love the mish. Be the mish.

Hermana Winfield

Count Your Blessings

Wow, what a week! I'm going to start off with the boring things (aka the world) and then I'll finish with the miracles of this week and General Conference (aka the good stuff)

1. My new companion......is AWESOME! She is a super duper hard worker and she is so loving. Her name is Hermana Banaswevski and she's from Chicago. She graduated from BYU-Idaho in psychology. She came right in working like a maniac and for that I love her. It feels so good to give everything you have everyday. To go to bed at night and feel so exhausted.....mentally, physically, spiritually. Feeling like you gave your all that day. And Hermana B. helps me feel that way everyday! In the short time we've been together, I've already seen miracles brought about because of her faith.....she is a power-house!

2. Well, sometimes when you have that mental exhaustion as explained above, you do crazy things. What did I do this week? I cut all my sleeves off my shirts. I was so hot, I couldn't handle it! I only cut the sleeves off of my downeast shirts, cause they're going under sweaters anyway! But nevertheless, Mamon was laughing at me for quite some time. I was SO hot. I just went crazy with the scissors, in a frenzy to find anything cutable. But no worries, I feel a lot better now.

3. Regular life in NY #1. I was going to eat some toast the other day. So I popped two pieces of bread into the toaster. Then when it was cooked, I popped them out. With the toast, out crawled about ten cockroaches. But I was hungry. The dilemma: eat the cockroach infested toast or waste 2 pieces of bread which is all the food you have. I ate the toast. And I never looked back. And I've continued eating toast from that toaster everyday. I mean, it can't be all that bad for you.....I bless the food.

4. Well, J-Lo predictions are correct.....we may have bed bugs. Why do I say "may"? Because I get eaten alive outside by mosquitoes so much it's hard to tell which is which. So in another moment of rage that is unique to H Winfield, I sharpied all my bug bites before going to bed the other night so I could tell which ones were new in the morning. So I had black dots all over my legs......yeah, I got some weird looks at the church when I forgot to wear one of my longer skirts. But don't worry, we threw out our bed and have a new one now. And we've sprayed permethrin everywhere (see picture) and we've heat scorched everything. They don't stand a chance.

5. Claudia and Karen update. They are doing SO great and really growing in the gospel! Claudia is getting ready to go do baptisms at the temple and we're going to go with her. Partay! And Karen reads the children's Book of Mormon like no one I've ever seen. One day we came over and she said "Oh yeah, I read 10 chapters last night. Want to know what I learned?" And continued to expound on how to apply it in her life......she knows more than most adults.

6. We're working on learning this new curriculum and organization system that makes missionary work simplified and easier. It will be taught in the MTC next summer so we're adapting it here first. I LOVE it and it really helps everyone get back to the basics in teaching and focusing on the Savior.

7. Miracle of the week: 10 year old Alisa is someone we've been teaching the last few months and she has never been baptized although she's been taught by missionaries off and on for the last 2 years. Her mom always says that Alisa needs to learn more before she can get baptized; she wants her to wait until she turns 11 in March....but who knows even then. So on Thursday night Hermana B and I saw her at the church building with her 16 yr old sister Bernice and we asked her how she felt about baptism. And we told her 10/10/10 would be a super cool day to get baptized (this sunday). She said she really wants to get baptized that day (she's always wanted to be baptized so no big surprise).

Well fast forward to yesterday (Sunday). We were mixing and mingling with ward members in-between the session and I saw her mom and went up talked to her. I asked her if she'd talked to Alisa about being baptized and this is what she said: "Oh yeah Alisa told me she'd talked to you about getting baptized this Sunday. I told her she really should wait til her birthday at least but she told me she didn't want to wait any longer. So I guess you're right, she can get baptized on Sunday. I mean, I guess it's about time since she's wanted to for ever." Oh my goodness! I almost cried right in front of her! So, Alisa will be getting baptized this Sunday! I am SO happy for her and the decision she's made to follow our Savior Jesus Christ; it will change her life.

8. General Conference. AMAZING. Oh man, being a missionary and watching general conference is the best! I love it so much, I can't even explain it in words. I loved everything about it and every talk.....I can't even choose a favorite. But one highlight I will share is the immense amount of gratitude I felt, even before President Monson's talk.

And when we were singing one of the hymns, I just started bawling thinking about how much the Lord has blessed us with. Even if I had no family, no money, no house, no food, and no clothes I would be abundantly blessed because I have the gospel of Jesus Christ. So whatever else we don't have doesn't matter. Because we have the one thing that can soothe every heart and dry every tear. The one thing that can fill every hole and heal every heart. Jesus Christ is in reality Our Savior and as His representative I testify that He lives and that He loves us. With Nephi I give thanks that "My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness...He hath filled me with His love, even unto the consuming of my flesh...Behold, He hath heard my cry by day, and He hath given me knowledge my visions in the night-time." He is the Savior of the world. Not only the Savior of those who know Him, or the Savior of those who are worthy of Him, or those who are esteemed among men. He is the Savior of every person on the face of this earth, even those who don't know they can be redeemed through Him. And He is especially the Savior of those who don't think they are worthy of his redeeming power. There is no problem He cannot conquer, no weakness He cannot strengthen, no heartache He cannot cure. We are so blessed to know Him and His gospel. And I feel so blessed to be His disciple for these 18 months. This mission, as short as I've been out here, has changed my life. I do not say that lightly; I will never be the same again. Like Eliza R. Snow, I can say that my heart is fixed in the Lord. I will not waiver. How blessed we our to be children of a Heavenly Father and have a Brother that loves us enough to take all of our sins and pains upon Him!

9. With that said, I want everyone that ends up reading this email to put your gratitude into action and share the gospel with someone around you. All of you know one person that does not know of the happiness they could have in their lives. What right do we have to withhold such blessings from them! When you've done this, I would love to hear about your experience!

10. I LOVE you all! Thank you so much for your support!

Shout outs this week go to- Grandma as always, Maggie, Dad, Mom, Brenna, Aunt Di, Cait, Em, and Anna! Thank you all so much!

Mom and Dad- You have no idea how thankful I am for you. And for all the years you prayed for me and taught me. I may not have acted like it, but I was listening! Besides the Savior and Heavenly Father, no one has had a more lasting and eternal impact on my life than the two of you. And Mom, we were totally besties in the pre-existence! Woot woot! Dad, I am so sorry for all the trouble I caused and for how mean I was. Sometimes we don't realize how completely blessed we are until later. But your dedication to the gospel has helped me lay a foundation that I will build upon for the rest of my life. You are the best father anyone could ever ask for and exactly the type of man I want to marry. I've got to stop now cause I'm bawling in an internet cafe and that's embarrassing!

Girlies- I love you SO much and I am so thankful we're all friends AND sisters! Partay for eternity!

Anna- I love you so much and I think about you often and how your mission experience must have been. Thanks for being my favorite older sister!

Cait- Oh, be still my soul! I love you so much and I loved your life update! You are right, I never would have seen that romantic turn coming......but I like it! Keep me updated!

Aunt Di- Don't give up! Your mission experience sounds like every 5 minutes of my life so I agree with you that it can be discouraging. But you're a great example! I'm so blessed to have you as my aunt! Thank you so much for your emails every week.....I wish I could write you long long letters!

Grandma- My love for you is pretty undying....you could say it's eternal! Thank you for being such an amazing grandma and for raising such an amazing daughter!

Kori- Oh man I miss you. Please write me a letter in the mail. Seriously you brighten my day. Maybe give me one of those pep talks you're so good at. Tell Rhen I said hello and I LOVE you both!

Maggot- I got both of your emails, sorry I haven't written back! I LOVE your life right now, it's like a fairy tale I would love to live in! I am sad you're moving, but in a way you'll be closer to me :) Plus, I can come visit you when I get back.....in my yacht. I can't even explain to you how happy you make me....but it's a lot. Please continue to email me cause I'd be super sad if you didn't. I love you!

Brenna- You are by far and hands down my favorite Brenna in the whole wide world. Oh man, I'm so glad we get along now! Good things those teenage years are behind us.....they were rough! I LOVED your dearelder and I LOVE you! You brighten my day whenever I get something from you. I love the person you are and how hard you are working. Way to be the big sister the girls need! I did some scripture research for you as requested and here's what I got:

Prayer. Great topic and lots of scriptures. Start with....

Mosiah 24
Alma 22:15-18,
Alma 27:5-8
Alma 28:5-6 and 30:2
Alma 31: 8-10, 13-35, 38
Alma 32: 3-11
Alma 34:17-27
Alma 37:36-37

Em: I miss you SO much! You're like a mini me but 100 times better! Keep being strong and being the awesome woman you are! I love you so much!

Beth: I miss you too! Awwww! I am so excited to be with you forever! So keeping being good and being all the amazing things you are and working hard. I LOVE you so much. Write me!

Buggy- Hands down my favorite Hayley and Bug in the whole world. Wow you are the sweetest person alive and always make everyone happy. Continue being the angel you are and be a good example to your friends.

Love the mish. Be the mish.
Hermana Winfield