Transfered to the other side of Twin

Dear Family and Friends!

I had a really awesome week. Our investigators are finally doing better and things are starting to look up! Sister Ramsey and I had a really fun week. We had an awesome ward party and it was just lovely. Sad news of the week:I am getting transferred:((((( I am staying in Twin, just headed over to the other Stake. My new companion is Sister Nieto and she is really nice. I will officially transfer on Wednesday so I have a few more days to say bye to my people. I am excited for this new adventure, but really sad to be leaving my first area especially when things are starting to happen here, and because I have gotten so close to these people! Also my current area is taking on another ward so we got a car again! but I just found out my new area is a bike area haha. #HeavenlyFatherisrealfunny. Anyways, I know that the Lord has a plan for me and I am leaving for a reason! I just have to trust in that and have faith that there are people who need me somewhere else:)

So this week we had a lot of really awesome lessons! That was our goal, was to have more powerful lessons so that our investigators could feel Spirit and progress. It was really awesome! When you really study and pray for the people, it is incredible how much Heavenly Father helps you and allows them to feel the Spirit. This week was my first talk in Sacrament meeting as a missionary! Bishop Kear called us Saturday and asked us to speak about.....drum roll please.....MEMBER MISSIONARY WORK!!! Didn't see that one coming. #favoritetopic #peoplearesickofhearingaboutit. We didn't really have time to prepare so I was really nervous, but as soon as I got up there, I just started speaking and the words flowed and I could feel the Spirit directing me! I just talked about the ways in which to become a successful member missionary; striving to have the spirit, aquiring humility, loving people and having charity, and opening your mouths. I shared a few experiences and I really felt good about it! Sister Ramsey did awesome as well!!!:) Since I finished the Book of Mormon I have started the new Testament and I am loving it. I shared a story from Matthew chapter 8 about the centurion. The Lord heals him of his sickness even though he didn't feel worthy because of his faith. I was thinking about that and faith. Do we have enough faith to share the Gospel? Do we have enough faith that God will help us? It really just hit me, that Christ is just so ready to bless and forgive and all he asks of us is to obey his commandments and rescue his lost sheep. So the message of the week; HAVE FAITH!!!

We had a ward party this week that we organized. The ward got rid of the activities committee and NEVER has activities and those are the best missionary opportunities where people can invite their friends to something casual. So we just had a simple potluck social and it went really well! A few of our investigators and less actives came. Someone brought a friend who is really interested and so Sister Ramsey and her new companion will start teaching her so that was exciting! And dude, I just LOVE our Bishop and his family. He is a young guy and super funny and just really looks out for us Sisters. His wife is an RM and is just the cutest and always takes good care of us. We were telling them that we are so poor we can't afford healthy food and we are gaining weight, and that night, they show up at our apartments with bags and bags full of fruits and veggies! I just love them. They are taking us roller skating tonight as a goodbye. I will miss them dearly. They have become our home away from home and I am so grateful for them! 

I am just so happy to be here and to be a part of this work! This week was just great and I could just go on and on about it! Thank y'all for all love and support. I will let you know next week how everything is going and how the new area is! Exciting! I hope you all have a great week. Sending my love. 

Sister Bigs

I love to see the temple!

Dear Family and Friends, 

How was everyone's Easter?? Mine was good! Everyday feels the same as a missionary though haha. I really enjoyed church and reflecting on Christ's life and His sacrifice. We didn't even sing any Easter songs at church though. #lame. Anyways our Easter dinner had to cancel. #sadday. I really missed my mommas cooking and being with my family. Nobody seemed to be home yesterday and it was a bit discouraging. But on Saturday night, our Bishop had us over for dinner, dessert, and some Easter fun! We dyed eggs and had an Easter egg hunt. They gave us each a little Easter basket with candy and goodies from Deseret Book. I really appreciated their love and kindness and it felt nice to be a part of a family for the day! Even though the day didn't turn out like we planned, I still just feel so grateful for the knowledge that we have of the Savior and His resurrection so that we may be able to live again one day. :)

This week was okay! I talked about in my last letter how the work has slowed down a little bit and not a whole lot seems to be happening. This week was kind of the same way. There was a lot of drama with investigators and it was really discouraging. It is so hard to watch people you love and care for so much to struggle and to have hard times. There were so many times this week that I found myself on my knees, and that I just wanted to give up so bad and just call it quits. But I won't! It would be so easy to give it all up and let the adversary win. But I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for me and He has so much in store for His children here. As a missionary it is so easy to blame yourself and feel that it is your fault when people aren't progressing. But people have their agency and all we can do is work hard and pray for them and help them as best as we know how. Missions are hard, and that is something people don't tell you before you leave. But I know just like in Section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants when the Lord is talking to Joseph Smith in Liberty jail He says, "Peace be with you. Thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment, and if thou shall endure them well, I will exalt thee on high, and though shall triumph over all thy foes." I LOVE that scripture and that has brought so much comfort to me. The hard times won't last forever and I know they are all for our learning and benefit to shape us into the faithful Saints that the Lord needs us to be. I will keep moving forward in faith because I know that the Lord will not fail me if I stick it out and I don't give up. I trust in Him and know that everything will work out:)

We had exchanges this week so I was in Rupert on Thursday with Sister Cluff. It was really fun and I really enjoyed going to a new area and meeting new people! We did lots of yard work and it was a beautiful day. I met some really incredible people and I always love learning from a new companion. Rupert is awesome! I feel blessed though because a lot of missionaries cover like 3-7 wards! Crazy stuff! I met this one lady named Patty who is like my soul sister! She is so sweet an just kept holding my hands and telling me she loved me and that I was beautiful. She is going to get baptized this month and is just one of the best people I have ever met! She has an incredible testimony and I loved hearing about her experiences.  It was my first time having 2 dinners #death. Apparently that is a normal thing in Rupert! Haha anyways, so that was really fun! We also had the privilege of going to the temple this week with our district. It was much needed. I just LOVE the temple. We went with our BFF Sister Black. I fasted that day and really was just seeking answers about how we could better help these people and about how I could become better. And as always, Heavenly Father answered them. I felt a sense of peace and calm the whole time and I just felt my Heavenly Father telling me, "Don't give up, I know this is hard right now, but I need your whole heart for this 18 months, and I promise you I will bless you, and everything will work out." It was the most incredible answer I have ever gotten. And every time, I walk into the Celestial room, I am just reminded of how much I want this and how much it means to me to do everything I can to make it there with my family. I always feel the presence of my loved ones who are on the other side.  I love the temple so much and am so grateful that we got to go:)

Transfers are coming up this next week! It is crazy that this transfer is already over, I feel like it just started! Really have no idea what is going to happen. It is a little bit nerve wracking when you don't know what to expect. Our hike in the canyon last week was AWESOME! We hiked up to this huge waterfall and just had a blast. The weather has been so nice this week and I have enjoyed finally not wearing a jacket. President Curtis has just been so great and he is always helping me when I am having a hard time. He is a really great President. We have awesome assistants who care about us and are always willing to help. A midst the trials and hard times, I am so blessed to be a missionary in these last days. It is an incredible work and I know it is true with all my heart. I am grateful for the testimony that I have that keeps me strong through the rough waters. I finished the Book of Mormon this week! It is so different and so much more amazing when you understand it and really study it. The Book of Mormon is true, I know it. The story in Ether of the Brother of Jared and his people crossing the waters has become one of my favorite. Even though it was a hard and terrible journey, they never ceased to pray, and it says, "The terrible winds never ceased to blow them toward the promised land." Our trials are only going to help us get to our destination. I love the lesson that we learn from that story and the faith we can gain from it. I am just so grateful for this time in my life and for the Gospel. 

We are off on another hike to explore more waterfalls! I love P day and the fun things we get to do. I hope everyone has a great week! Also I was going to ask that you guys keep some of our investigators and people in your prayers, and pray for them by name, I would really appreciate it:) Jake, Kellie, Nancy, Cody, Amanda, Ryanne, Jessica, Elara, Elizabeth, Gabby, Kacie, Tia, Farrer Family, Jolene, Claborn Family. Thank you so much for all the love and support! I love this work and am so happy to be here. I miss you all like crazy. Know that I think of you and I pray for you and I love you all so much. Have an amazing week! Sending my love. 

xoxoxoxoxox Sister Bigs

#idahoprobs

Dear Family and Friends, 

With Easter coming up, we have been focusing a lot on the Atonement with our investigators, study time, and dinner messages. Our mission President put together a packet called the 40 day feast, and each day we get to read a talk or devotional, or scriptures about the Atonement. Reading these and focusing on it for the last month has changed my life so much. Not that any of us could ever fully comprehend what the Savior did for us, but just even understanding it that much more makes such a difference. The Atonement is real and I am so so so grateful for it. It is incredible to me that no matter what we have done in our lives, that Savior is always waiting with open arms to forgive us. And not only that, but it gives us the strength to overcome and enables us to become better each day. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the many ways in which it blesses me everyday:)

Being a missionary has so many ups and downs all the time. When it's good, it's amazing, and when it's bad, it sucks! But that is all a part of being a missionary and learning and becoming the person the Lord wants you to be. What would a mission be without hard times and a bike ride in the snow every once in awhile?:) That actually happened! It was so nice and in the 70s all week long and then yesterday morning it started to snow! #idahoprobs. Haha. Things have kind of started to slow down here. Our investigators aren't progressing as they should and it is heartbreaking. But this is where the Lord makes up for when we fall short. We are going to go back to basics and talk about the importance of little things in staying on the right course and in helping have that desire. I hope that we can rely on the Spirit and know what we can do better to help these people. It is amazing because I have never felt such strong love for anyone in such a short amount of time. When you see these people as children of God, everything is different, and all you want for them is to be happy and the Gospel can do that. I am grateful for this learning experience that I have to learn to rely on my Father in Heaven during times of trial and the ways in which it helps me to become better. 

We didn't have a baptism this weekend. And that is okay and really a blessing in disguise! Jake just needs a little more time to learn and to really become converted and to understand the covenants he will be making. Baptism is a HUGE step especially for those that have to change every aspect of their lives and sometimes it just takes more time. He is doing okay and trying to stay strong through the process. Definitely hard, but I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for him and for each of us and I have trust that it will work out the way it is meant to. :)

We had a zone conference this week and it was so great! We learned about more effective planning and about how that can help our investigators. We also learned about finding people and that they need to trust you within the first few minutes. We had some role plays and really awesome council. We learned that in order to have one baptism a month, you need to have 10 new investigators each month, 6 at sacrament meeting each week, and 3 with a baptismal date. So that is Sister Ramsey and I's new goal! Our President is awesome and really inspired. It was fun to see other missionaries. We had BOMB lunch. But with Mormons I wouldn't expect any less. They gave us all little care packages. I am just so thankful for our mission presidency and office couples that look out for us and give us mom hugs when we need them. I love this work. It is truly hastening at this time and it is so amazing to be a part of it. Being a missionary is harder, but so much greater than I ever expected it to be! I love these people and there is no place I would rather be. 

Well, we are off to take a hike in the canyon with our Zone! Should be really fun. I really encourage all of you as this Easter week approaches to think and study about the Atonement and what it means to you. There truly was no greater sacrifice, nor greater gift and I am so grateful. Y'all are the best. I love and miss all of you more than you know and I pray for you each and every day! Thank you for all the love and support. I feel it and I appreciate it! Keep on keeping on. Heavenly Father is watching out for you and he loves you. Never forget it:)

Love, Sister Bigs

Best. Weekend. Ever.

Dear Family and Friends,

Dude. Conference was amazing. Best. weekend. ever. This week was just awesome and so many amazing things happened and I am just on cloud nine. Couldn't be happier! :) I hope everyone is doing well. Love hearing from you guys. 

So this week I was out of commission for a few days so I could recover. I slept for dayzzz and I feel so much better! Toward the end of the week I was ready to work hard and press forward! It was still super rainy and cold this week which is always fun on bikes! Sometimes I feel like a pioneer. I know that what I am doing doesn't even compare to what they did, but when we are trudging through the freezing cold rain and wind on our bikes, and it feels like we will never be warm again, I can't help but feel grateful. I know that being here on a mission is a sacrifice and I had to give up so much to be here, but it is so worth it, and the blessings far outweigh the trials and the sacrifices. I just think about the pioneers and how much they had to give up, yet they kept moving forward with faith in God and knowing that it was all worth it! Plus what would a mission be if there weren't hard times? We wouldn't learn anything or grow at all, or become the person Heavenly Father wants us to be! 

We have a baptism coming up on Saturday! Jake is doing awesome and we can't wait for him to take this first step. We had an incredible lesson with him, Kellie, and Bishop this week. We were teaching the commandments and were running short on time, so we were kind of just going through them quick. We were reviewing the law of chastity and I had the distinct impression to testify of the importance and the sacredness. Bishops testimony followed as well as Sister Ramsey's. It was so powerful and we were all in tears by the end. Since Kellie and Jake love each other it is so important for them to realize why God has asked us to do this since they have never lived the law of chastity in their lives. As I testified, I felt the Spirit testify so strongly to me about why this is so important. Marriage between a man and a woman truly is ordained of God. The ability and the power that God has given us to create families is among the most important gifts we have. I told them, "Just do it right the first time." As I talked about that, it reminded me of my goals and that I want to do it right and both me, and Kellie and Jake on are the right path to get there. When you do it right, it is even greater than we could have ever imagined. I never want to compromise that.  "In the sight of the Lord, it is not so much what we have done, or where we have been, but much more where we are willing to go. " -Edward Dube. I love that quote. Not only was I teaching them, but the Spirit was teaching me. I have always known the importance of it, but it is incredible when the Spirit confirms it to you so strongly. It is lessons like those that make all of this worth it. I have decided right here an now that I will never go back, but only go forward. I will not let ANYTHING get in the way of returning back to my Father in Heaven. I hope all of that made sense. Main point being, it was such an awesome lesson and I learned so much. 

Everyone else is doing really well! Like I say everytime, there is so much work and so much good happening. We had the opportunity to watch general conference with most of our investigators. Okay conference was AWESOME! Some of my favorites were Elder Anderson's talk about building your foundation on Christ and daring to stand alone. LOVED Richard G. Scott's talk about love and service. Missionary quote: "We all chose the Savior's plan before this life. Trust and have faith that the children of God will choose it again." We watched Priesthood session with an investigator and it was so good! Elder Oaks talked a lot about our roles and responsibilities as man and women together in the Priesthood. "Men are NOT the Priesthood, they hold it and have the authority to use it." Randall L. Ridd gave a great talk about how technology can help us instead of hurt us. He talked about being in the moment and how each click of the mouse determines the kind of person we are. Also Elder Uchtdorf encouraged us to "not be sleeping through the Restoration." and to be proactive in helping build up Gods kingdom. Elder Eyring talked about our Priesthood heroes and it made me so grateful for my daddy:) Elder Uchtdorf's talk about gratitude was awesome! "There are no endings in the Gospel, just everlasting beginnings/" Such a great reminder to always be grateful no matter what. M. Russell Ballard's talk about missionary work. #represent. I love how he encouraged everyone to get a preach my gospel and if you have a missionary out serving to include in your letters about what you are learning in Preach my Gospel. (Please do that, I would love it!:)) Elder Bednar gave an amazing talk about the Atonement and how we "shouldn't pray to change our circumstances, but pray for the strength to endure them." President Monson's talk about loving others was amazing. "Love is the very essence of the Gospel. Blame keeps wounds open. Only forgiveness heals."I loved Michael Teh's talk about what matters most in this life. AHH!! There were just so many great ones. I received so many answers to my questions and for my investigators. I noticed that each person, no matter what their talk was about, always brought it back and testified of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I loved it. I am so grateful for a living prophet and all of our inspired leaders. :)

I am just doing so great. I can't say it enough, but I love it! This week was awesome and conference was exactly what I needed! I am happy. And I love this work so much. I love you all. I am so grateful for my testimony that is built on the foundation of Christ and that it gets me through the hard times. There is nothing more important in this life. As mom always says, "the most important thing in a spouse is a strong testimony.":) Have a great week everyone! Thank you for all the love and support. Sending my love. 

xoxoxoxox Sister Bigs

A love connection (not mine)

Dear Family and Friends! 

Whaddup?? How has everyone's week been? Mine has been good! There are some great things happening here and I am just having the time of my life! Idaho is the definitely the place to be. I am so grateful for the prophet and this inspired call just for me because Heavenly Father knew I needed to be here to touch certain people's lives. As I am here more, I see that and it is such a blessing. :)

So this week I got hit by another bug. Except this time it is worse! Being sick on a mission is the worst because you need to rest and get better because you are not useless and miserable if you don't, but then you feel so guilty for taking a second to recuperate and not be out working every second of every day. But people have been hooking me up with essential oils and medicine, and people take such good care of us! I am convinced it is from riding our bikes in the freezing cold rain everyday. It is really awesome when we show up to our appointments soaking wet from head to toe. We are just a hot mess haha. I have stopped bothering straightening and curling my hair because the helmet/rain messes it up everyday. #firstworldprobs :) Even though things like that happen and sometimes it stinks, I have learned to just keep a smile on my face and be grateful that I am healthy enough to even ride a bike! On the bright side, riding bikes doesn't make me feel guilty for eating too much dessert! #winwin 

Other than feeling crappy, we had a great week! Nothing too out of the ordinary happened, but we taught a lot and are seeing a lot of people progress! Super funny story; So Kellie, our recent convert, and Jake, the one who is getting baptized in 2 weeks are totally in love with each other! They are right next door to each other and have been best friends for awhile. Kellie introduced him to the church and to us. So basically they are head over heels and we are expecting wedding invitations to the sealing in a year! Haha. We just love them and want the best for them and their cute little someday family!:) I just love our people. The people is what makes everything worth it. We have so much fun at our appointments and are getting so close to each one of our investigators and their families. I miss you guys, but I feel like I have family here too! I feel so blessed to be working with so many incredible people who love me and take care of us. Also it will be so nice to come back and visit since I will be so close! The work here in Idaho is just moving right along and I am loving every minute of it! 

This week was also the General Women's Broadcast. And it was INCREDIBLE!!! Exactly what I needed. I loved the videos and the talks and everything about it. I was a ball baby the whole time. I love how when all the Sisters come together there is just a sense of unity and a bond of Sisterhood. It is so awesome to be a part of it! When Elder Eyring said, "I want you to look at your mom or whoever brought you and give them a smile," Sister Ramsey and I just looked at each other and said, "I miss my mommy" Haha. It really did make me miss you mom and my sisters. But I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and comfort as I was missing you guys. I also felt my Grammie right there with us in Spirit. I love the moments when my Heavenly Father knows how I am feeling, and He gives me exactly what I need. I felt all my Sisters there with me that night and it was an amazing feeling. Kellie was there and she loved it, and the Spirit was so strong! I am so excited to be able to hear from our Prophet and our leaders this weekend. It is such an amazing blessing! Conference on a mission is like Christmas morning! Seriously can't wait! 

I love you all and am so grateful for the support. wouldn't be here without you. I just want you all to know that I have a testimony and I know with all my heart and soul that this Gospel is true. I have felt it, and I have seen the miracles that can come from it. I love my Savior. Words can't express the gratitude I have for His loving sacrifice. As we approach the Easter season, it has been impressed more and more on my heart that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real and it is there for us at all times. There in nothing that we can do in this life that He won't forgive us of. We are seriously annoying and selfish creatures, yet God doesn't care. He loves us so much, if we come to His open arms, he will take us under His wing and forgive us. Think about how much love and patience that takes. If there is anything I know and have learned while I have been here, it is that God loves us so much. Without the Atonement, we as missionaries would have no message to share! I love everything about being a missionary and a member of this church. :) I love you all so much! Alma Chapter 7 is amazing and you all should read it! I love this Gospel and I love this work! Thank you again for all that you do for me. Have a fabulous week! 

xoxoxoxoxoxox Sister Bigs (That is what everyone calls me, not the greatest nickname ever haha)

Legs of Steel

Dear Family and Friends!

What an awesome week! Serving in Twin has its perks! The members are so great and they just never stop feeding us. They pay for our food and we are LOVING it! I feel so blessed to be here! How is everyone doing? It is great to get letters and emails! I feel the love!! Y'all are so great and so supportive, I couldn't be any happier:)

All I have to say is BIKES. They finally took the car. They gave us 2 matching beach cruisers. What the what?? Yeah beach cruisers.  Those things SUCK for long distance and speed. Plus the fact that I haven't ridden a bike in forever doesn't help at all. That first day on bikes was rough. Also, the wind here in Idaho is always blowing and always working against us.#thestruggleisreal Sister Ramsey and I just sing to get our minds off how hard it is. W just have to laugh at how funny this is. We are riding against the wind in skirts that keep blowing up, on our beach cruisers, just belting our little hearts out. Members pass by in cars and they just laugh at us haha. I have to say it is pretty hysterical. Blessing of the week: Our District leader and his companion can't ride bikes because one of them has knee problems, so they are letting us borrow their super fast mountain bikes!!! They are SO much better and faster. I am still getting into shape! By the end of my mission I will have legs of steel. I am grateful for the nice weather Twin has been having and for our bikes! Once you get past the butt soreness, it is so fun! 

We had a good week overall! Still just teaching and meeting lots of people. Our investigators are all doing so great! Kellie is doing awesome! This week, we are going to do some family history with her so we can go to the temple to do baptisms with her! We are really excited about that. Also remember how in my last letter, I was telling you about how she told her neighbor Jake about the church? Well he is incredible. We barely just started teaching him a week ago and he is changing his life. He talks about how happy he is and how he notices the difference in his life. He texts us everyday asking us for a scripture to read and asking us so many questions. He says that he is just "thirsting for the truth, and wants more, more, more." It is awesome. So on Friday we set a baptismal date for him for April 26th and he said yes. And then, last night, he was texting us asking us questions about the scriptures and telling us about how much he loved church. And out of nowhere, he just texts us and says, "So can I get baptized before April 26th? I just really need to do it cause I want these blessings and I have already repented and everything." You should have seen Sister Ramsey and I! We were screaming and jumping up and down. Those are the kind of moments that you LIVE for as a missionary. Of Course you can get baptized sooner!!! He is so awesome and so ready! It amazes me everyday how the Lord is preparing people to hear this message. I am so grateful for the miracles like that, that I see everyday. I can't explain how amazing it is, but all I know is that I love it and I am so grateful! 

Life is just good. Conference is coming up, we have a few baptisms coming up, we have a temple trip coming up, the weather is getting warmer, and there is so much work! Sister Ramsey and I have a goal to be PERFECT! We want to be exactly obedient because there are so many good things happening. We know that if we do our part, the Lord will bless us and allow peoples hearts to soften and all that good stuff. Things are just great and I am so happy. Happier than I ever have been in my life. I love this Gospel and I am so grateful to be part of the Lord's work and on his errand. Thank you all for your support and love. I feel it everyday. Have a great week, I know I will! :) Love you all to the moon and back. Sending my love. 

Love, Sista Bigs

Snackrament meeting

Dear Family and Friends,

Hello everyone! The days and weeks just seem to be flying by even faster these days. I hope everyone had a great week because I know I did! The Lord is just blessing us left and right here in Twin Falls and I am loving it! So I guess I better give you the juicy details! :)

So this week I got really sick. And I mean really sick. I haven't been that sick in a long time. I felt so terrible and everything hurt. I had a fever, aches, congestion, headaches, and everything! And then I woke up with pink eye on Tuesday morning in both eyes. #ewwwww. So I called the mission doctor and made an appointment to go see him. He told me I had the flu caused by bacteria. So much for the flu shot they made me get. haha. So he prescribed me antibiotics and some eye drops for the pink eye. He told me that if I didn't need to be anywhere, that I shouldn't because I was super contagious. So basically it sucked because I had to stay home. We had appointments at night that I didn't want to miss, but during the day I slept and Sister Ramsey did whatever. I felt so guilty for not working, I kept feeling the need to repent haha. I was driving Sister Ramsey crazy because I kept telling her how guilty I felt for sleeping all day and she was like "Dude! You have permission to sleep, take advantage of it!" It is crazy how a mission changes your mindset. But I am doing a lot better now and feeling much better! I was so ready to get out of the apartment and get back to work. Being sick on a mission sucks big time, but I am happy to be back to work:)

Other than being sick, this week was great! We had a lot of appointments and taught a lot of people. Every Sunday when we have the missionary correlation meeting, everyone is always just so impressed with all the work we are doing! At the moment we have 6 progressing investigators which is a lot! We get tons of referrals as well and are working with a lot of less actives. We (meaning the Spirit)  have already gotten one whole less active family back to church and really involved! It is so great! I just love all the people that we are working with. So let me tell you more about them. 

So the woman that we set the baptism date with, her name is Kellie and she is seriously so funny!!!! So we set her baptism date for March 15th!!! We are so excited and she is even more excited and I can't wait for my first baptism! This week we were teaching her and the Sacrament got brought up. And she was like, "Oh the bread and water mean something? I just thought that was a snack? Isn't that why they call it the snackrament?" Hahaha it was so funny. So on Sunday we were sitting with her and her little boy was being loud and she goes, "Shhhh, it's time for the snackrament." I guess whatever floats her boat haha. But she is awesome. And what is even more awesome is that we are the first missionaries to ever teach her! So we didn't just come in and pick up where other missionaries left off, but we were the first! I know she has been prepared for so long and her excitement and enthusiasm for the Gospel inspires me. I cannot wait for her baptism day! It is going to the pretty special and something I will remember for the rest of my life. 

The other people we are teaching are making progress, just slowly. Nancy was all set to come to church this week and she didn't and it was heartbreaking! I feel like I got stood up by a date or something. See again, missions change the way you think. But Nancy is making progress! She is so nervous to pray, so she has started writing her prayers down everyday in her journal which is huge! But anyways, we invited Amanda to be baptized and she wants to, but she is just uncomfortable with the idea and doesn't feel ready yet, so we will continue teaching her. Rene is working on his smoking and we are working toward marriage for him and his girlfriend so that he can get baptized. We started teaching a 10 year old girl named Ryanne whos parents are less actives, and she is wanting to get baptized so that is exciting! Cody has been to church the last few weeks and loves it! He made a comment to someone in the ward about getting baptized so we are excited to see where that goes! Jolene, the less active woman who I just adore, tore up her knee so we are going over there in a little bit with some Priesthood to give her a blessing. We visit so many people I wouldn't have time to talk about them all, but that is basically what happened this week as far as investigators go. We tracted a lot on Friday because we didn't have any appointments and that was fun! We met this really crazy lady who was all, "I'd rather listen to Jehovah's Witnesses than you crazy people." Haha. People are funny sometimes. But it was a good experience! This mission is not a tracting mission, but we do it every once in awhile if things are slow.  

So anyways, I am definitely adjusting and things are becoming easier. I have officially been out for a month! I really do feel like I just left, it's crazy! Transfers are already halfway over!!!! We have a meeting this week with all of us new missionaries this week to see how everyone is doing so that should be fun to see everyone again. We also have interviews with President this week as well as a Zone meeting so that should be fun! Sister Ramsey and I saw President Curtis earlier today and we begged him not to transfer us or take us apart. He just laughed at us and said, "That's not up to me, that's up to the Lord." We hope we get to stay longer because we are doing so many good things here! Plus we like each other so that doesn't hurt. President told us that he is proud of us and that we will most likely stay here in Twin with each other! He said that there hasn't been a baptism here in months so he said, "If you have been here 3 weeks and are already baptizing, you must be doing something right." So we will pray for it! It is crazy how similar Sister Ramsey and I are, especially in our past experiences. It is so nice to have someone to relate to and to learn from each other. Sister Ramsey is awesome and I am so happy I was blessed with such an amazing trainer. We have started doing this new thing where if someone isn't answering their door, we sing primary songs really really loud. #weareweirdos. But at least we have fun! Everyday is an adventure with Sister Ramsey and I. I love it!

The weather is so nice here! It has been in the 50s all week and so sunny, we are loving it! We haven't even been wearing jackets and it is so nice! We almost wish we could be on bikes now because it is just so nice. I am getting to know my District better and other missionaries. We had to have a little chat with our District this week though about taking things more seriously. District meetings just haven't been very spiritual or uplifting. And this week when I was really sick, I thought maybe a blessing would help, but I honestly didn't know who to ask. And that is super sad if I can't even ask Elders from my own District! So we just told them how we were feeling, and they really stepped up! That is our job as a District is to encourage and to help one another so I am glad that we are all on the same page now! There are some pretty amazing missionaries here and I am grateful that I have the chance to learn from them.

My love for the Book of Mormon has grown so much! I love personal study time! I was kind of worried about that when I first came on my mission because an hour seemed like a really long time to study the scriptures, but it goes by way too fast! I have a 50 day challenge to read the Book of Mormon, so that means 10 pages a day, and I always read more. I love marking them up and writing my thoughts down. When you read it fast, the stories make more sense and everything comes together. Every morning when I read it, it is confirmed that it is true. I know it is without a doubt. Reading it everyday makes teaching about it so much more powerful because I can testify to people that it is the truth. I have never really had a something amazing happen to me that told me the church is true. But as I have come to gain a testimony on my own, it is confirmed to me over and over again very quietly. All I have to do is look around. I am so blessed. If ever there is a doubt, Heavenly Father makes it go away. There is no way I could ever deny this Gospel. I know it is true. The Spirit that I feel when I read the Book of Mormon or when I testify to my investigators of these wonderful truths is incredible. I can't really even put it into words how amazing it is to know without a doubt. I love that my calling is to bear testimony of Jesus Christ and His Gospel. Like it is confirmed to me in my blessing, "The Gospel will bless your life, but it will be an even greater blessing as you share it with those around you. As you let the light of the Gospel shine in your life, you will have the opportunity to bear testimony to those who have not received this wonderful blessing. As you share this testimony and others have the opportunity to receive this testimony, your own life will be enriched and your testimony will grow."

Well it looks like I am almost out of time. I love this. I am going to be honest in saying that some days I have to pray to love this because it is really hard. But I know that Heavenly Father is helping me through every step of this journey. It is so easy to doubt myself and to feel inadequate, but I know by working hard and relying on the Spirit and my Father in Heaven, everything will be okay. I am so grateful to be here. Thank you for all of your support. It means so much to me. Remember that your example is so important and others look up to you. Let the light of the Gospel shine in your life. Be an example and pray for missionary opportunities and I promise that Heavenly Father will bless you with them. I love you all so much! Have a great week. I miss you and I pray for you. Sending my love.

Love, Sister Bigelow