17 - Song of the Heart

(50 minutes, lets see how much I can write! Just kidding, 40 minutes... haha)

Being in a trio has been... very hard. But it's been good. Struggles do surface though, just with trying to work evenly in each others areas to keep both areas healthy and just with good ol' learning how to deal with each other the best way possible, learning all sorts of lessons through it all. It's been good though. And this week is going to be even better.

Again, I want to apologize about last week's scatteredness. To just rectify that a little, last week, we had a ton of inspired finding experiences. We went to the Soup Kitchen to help out, to get our optional and recommended service hours in, and we didn't end up serving there, but rather going to this picnic thing and it was raining and we were like what? but we found 3 less actives there. And one day we went to return a plate to someone since one of our lessons canceled and it turns out she was having a really hard day and we were able to comfort her by being there. "It's amazing how the Lord had someone schedule a doctors appointment so we could come return a plate," at Sister Springer powerfully put it. We gave out a Book of Mormon this week to someone chillin at the hospital for the free coffee who we saw at the soup kitchen picnic. We ran into a guy who said he'd come to church and bring his friends. And there have been even more finding experiences than that. Little miracles, but so great at the very same time.

Wedding at the Chapel

We also attended a wedding this week. Not our investigators, we were just there to give support. It was good. But I've got to tell ya, I'm never letting a fast food restaurant cater for my wedding. It just felt like we were having a family get together or birthday party. But, it was good.

Rough Wedding Cake (LOL!) 

We went to Fort Yates this week for district meeting. Sister Springer and Sister Paniagua are in a different district than I am, even though they're in the same ward... don't ask me how it works, I really don't know. But, it was pretty cool. Nice change of scenery, looked like a green green place with some dumpy trailers. And it smelled like a still-water lake, because it basically is one. Crazy. And the church has bars on the windows! Whoa nelly!

But I want to tell a story today.

A story about the power of music.

The Lord has said a heartfelt song By the righteous is a prayer; A hymn unites us and invites The spirit to be there (Hymn #71, With Songs of Praise).

It was a Wednesday. We received word that one of our less actives who we were working with had a brother who was just found and issued into the psych ward in the hospital. (I'm sad because I don't have a lot of time to tell this story.) This guy, he was in Fargo, just, running away. He had been locked up in jail for false charges. two of his close relatives, one of them being his son, committed suicide in his own home. He was in a dark dark place right now.

We arrived with the family and the conversation was so somber. So disheartening, but inspiring, but sad, all at once, full of encouragement yet despair and angst. Then the conversation moved to more, well, conversational things. It was nicer. The kids, his nieces who are about three, were running around being crazy. It was getting late, almost time to go. But we felt like we should give a little something more. So Sister Springer and I decided to just start singing. We sang a song and they stopped and marveled. Sister Springer was my alto, which I admit was different, reverse of what I am used to. It was so nice, clicking into that harmony, feeling it lock into place. And we sang another song, this one, A Child's Prayer. Sister Springer made up harmony for it previously. It just flowed, and it was such a treat to all of us to hear it and be a part of it. Teddy was so amazed at later hearing that we had never sung that song together.

A Child's Prayer became his favorite song. We sang it every day we went back to visit. We told him we would visit everyday, or try to. We didn't make it the following day, but we did the day after. And the day after. And even the day after. We sang a Child's Prayer this time for all who were in the lobby of the psych ward. It was silent and the spirit was strong. Teddy was so proud to have us sing for them. One person actually started praying after we finished.

The next day however, we didn't come. He was so disheartened. The next night when we showed up he just lit up inside. He is like a little child, such a sweet spirit. He told us he was praying for us last night, that we were safe. He said that he had a good dream last night, for the first time in a while. He dreamt that we were singing, and that we were like, halfway angels. We had a good casual night where Sister Springer cut Teddy's hair and Sister Paniagua and I were being severely stumped with a bible crossword. We were quite close now. We sang again the next night for all of the psych ward and when we started to sing, the person watching the TV turned it all the way down without anyone tell him to. It was special to them all. Teddy said goodbye to us and watched us leave. It was heart breaking.

Then. We went to visit the next night, Wednesday, and he Was being discharged. But we weren't even allowed to go in, since he was being 'kicked out' and he didn't have a ride and he couldn't talk to us even though he could see us through the window and it was just a mess. But. We were there for him in the mess when he 'did get out.

We sang. And it calmed him.

The power of music is real.

16 - Trio Madness

Holy cow, this week has been the busiest week I've like, basically had since I started my mission, and it's WONDERFUL! It's great to be so incredibly busy teaching LESSONS!! AH! We taught over thirty lessons this week! And that's compared to the round about six or seven that we have been teaching! Wow. It's been a blast. It's been exhausting, mostly for the other sisters who have been busy all along. I would still be up and ready to go, a little tired, but nothing that I haven't dealt with before. "Aren't you exhausted? How are you still not tired?" Shrug? I don't know. haha. I just not tired. Sister Springer and Sister Paniagua have been such great examples to me this week, serving in this trio.

And ye shall go forth in the power of my Spirit, preaching my gospel, two by two, in my name, lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump, declaring my word like unto angels of God. ...And from this place ye shall go forth into the regions [south]ward; and inasmuch as ye shall find them that will receive you ye shall build up my church in every region, (D&C 42:6;8)

Bismarck / Minot Zone Conference, Summer 2014

Man, there's SO much that has happened this week, but the overarching miracle of this experience has been how often the Lord has placed us in the paths which lead us to people who need to see us. None of us can ever deny that God intended us to cross paths with these people. None of these were sheer happenstance.

Sister Bell and Sister Sanderson

Man, I don't even know where to start... Well I guess first off, it feels like serving with Sister Easter is a distant past.

I've been serving with Sister Springer and Sister Paniagua since Tuesday afternoon after zone conference where Sister Bell and I parted ways for her to go up to Minot.

It was a good four days I had with Sister Bell. 

Sister Monteirth and Sister Sanderson

Oh, and the Sister who is going home, Sister Monteirth (The th is silent) was at zone conference. She hides it super well, but apparently she's in constant pain.

She's planning on coming back out if she can, if they find out what's wrong with her stomach and how to treat her.

Just so much has happened.

These days have been very packed and long.

We have mostly been teaching less active members of the church in the sister's area.


You know it's busy when you can't find time to eat dinner. We didn't have a dinner appointment Wednesday, and we intended to eat dinner, but something popped up, and then something else, until it was eight something or other and so we met one of the Sister's investigators at a restaurant and we had to actually have them bring it to us boxed up because it was too late to eat it there. We had to be in by 9:30 and we were already going to be late concerning curfew. So dinner while we plan at night for the next day! That was a new one! haha.

Man, I apologize. My thoughts are not organized at all. So many things that happened and just a short and scattered collection of thoughts this week. Too much crazy!

Momma Cat and Newly Born Kittens (we saw it happen!)

Just to give you an idea of the craziness, we SAW THE MIRACLE OF BIRTH DURING A LESSON!

That's right! We got into the lesson and he told us she had kittens just two hours before! Right there on the couch! And he, like, aw, didn't know what to do. He didn't even know she was pregnant. We were having the lesson and, so funny and cute, he, the person we were teaching, was like, on track but we were distracted by the cat and her new born kittens and Sister Springer noticed that the momma cat was having contractions, her body lurching periodically. "I don't think she's done. She's having contractions. She's probably going to have another one." And sure enough! Out came another kitten! Another white one. And then later came the placenta goopy goop and momma cat ate it. It was really something else. And she had another one we heard after we left. Six kittens!

More stuff happened... but this is all I have time to write about! Sorry!

P.S. I don't know WHAT I would do without Sister Springer to cut my hair!

Sister Springer, the "resident" Hair Dresser. :-)

Don't Do It, Sister Springer! Well, Okay, Go Ahead!

P.S.S. Last night we drank vinegar with baking soda. 

Oh, that Vinegar is SOOOO Good!

And even Better the Second Time! Ha ha!

...Apparently the Sister's started doing it as a punishment for eating bad. Sisters... you're crazy. It clears your system though. And the plain vinegar isn't that bad, but with the baking soda.... I don't see why it's necessary. >^<

Vinegar Shots for Sister Springer

And for Sister Paniagua

I Promise....No more eating Badly!

THAT'S gonna leave a mark!

15 - Emergency Transfers

Improvement and progression have one eternal round (Hymn 284, If You Could Hie to Kolob).

The Lord has blessed me through change. It is the roller coaster weeks that are the hardest, but that also inspire the most growth. This week, completely unexpected changes were made in the Bismark 3 area. (There's 5 areas, five sets of missionaries in Bismark. We just happen to be over area 3.)

Wednesday evening we were in a lesson with Jane. The phone rang, but of course we couldn't answer it, we were in a lesson. During the lesson, we invited Jane to be baptized, and she excepted to prepare herself to be baptized on August 30th. She's so ready spiritually, SO ready. We're so excited for her to make this step and to grow in her knowledge of the truth. Sheesh, we almost forgot that someone called us in the middle of the lesson. 

"Oh, who called us?" Sister Easter asked. I got out the phone and flipped it open and we listened to the voicemail.

"Hello Sisters, this is President Anderson-" Our eyes widened. Shock. President Anderson called us? Why? What's happening to have him call 'us?' 

"If you could call me back, we need to discuss some changes that will be happening in your area. So give me a call back. I love you Sisters. Bye."

"...What's going on? Changes in the area?"

"....I don't know.... ...It's probably nothing. It's probably something super simple and we're freaking out over nothing," Sister Easter said. But she didn't sound to sure... Pft, I wasn't too sure! 

We walked into the apartment. The Sisters were home.

"Did you get a call from President Anderson?" I asked.

"No," Sister Christianson replied concerned.

Okay.. President Anderson called us and 'not' the Sister Training leader?? What was going on!?

We tried calling back, sitting at our desks now in preparation for the nightly planning routine, but President didn't answer.

"....Maybe we're the first ones to get new ipads!" I said, trying to come up with an explanation.. but I knew that couldn't be it... ..We planned for the next day, and then the call. We scrambled to answer the phone, pressing the button at the same time!

"Hello this is Sister Easter and Sister Sanderson!"

"Hello Sisters, President Anderson."

"Hello! We got your message!"

"Yes. There's going to be a bit of change in your area. There's a sister in Minot who is sick. Her stomach is having problems and she's going home. Sister Bell is going to be getting transferred from Eagle Bute to Minot so that Sister can go home. Sister Easter, I understand you have native american in your ancestry?"

"Yes," she said, looking into my eyes, her eyes red... we knew what was coming...

"Right. I'm going to ask you to serve down in Eagle Bute, South Dakota on the reservation with Sister Harvey. Will that be alright?"

"...Yeah." A tear trickled down. We were both in shock.

"Sister Bell and Sister Harvey will be there to make the switch at between one and two tomorrow afternoon." Our eyes widened... tomorrow!?

"Ok."

"So you'll have to pack tonight. And Sister Sanderson, Sister Bell will be with you until zone conference on Tuesday. The Minot zone is coming down on Tuesday, so Sister Bell will go back up after zone conference. After that you will be in a trio with the sisters closest to your area for the rest of the transfer so you can work in both areas. So you'll be in a trio for three weeks."

"Ok."

"Alright. Thank you Sisters for your willingness and your cooperation. We love you. Thanks for stepping in to help."

"Your welcome, love you."

"Love you too. Thanks, bye."

"Bye."

.....Sister Easter and I just stared at each other, tears in her eyes, shock and threatening tears in mine. ....Usually when you get transferred you have the whole weekend, Sunday Monday and Tuesday morning, to say goodbye and get packed. This. This was less than twenty-four hours...

We came out and told the other Sisters. ...We all gathered around, heavy hearted, into a group hug, Sister Easter and I both crying... I didn't expect anything like this.. or that the thought of her leaving would leave me with such a hole in my heart... I pulled back, tears down my face, my voice choked, and said:

"I didn't know you were part native," T^T

And everyone busted up laughing... lol Sister Christianson especially, rolling on the floor. lol Quote of the week I guess. I suppose it was just funny in this sad sad moment and just randomly, "I didn't know you were part native!" Haha. It's important though! Because she wouldn't have been sent to the reservation if she wasn't, because President only sends Sisters who have native in them to the reservations! So. It's an important detail. I had reason to cry and say that. lol

It was a weird night and day. It was so sad, Sister Easter taking everything off the walls. She had a LOT on her walls. It was so empty. And we couldn't sleep that night. So we got out our scriptures. We fell asleep 12:30, 1:00 area. Thursday, which was the next day, is usually the day we set aside the morning to plan for the week. But there was hardly any point of it anymore.. and we needed to say goodbyes... It was a heck of a weird day. ...

Last Breakfast with Sister Easter

The Sisters cooked us pancakes though. 

Sister Easter didn't have much of an appetite. 

She's good at putting on a happy face though. 

It was nice to be together for breakfast.

Yes! I can eat that pancake!

"Dare you to eat the last pancake Sister Sanderson," said Sister Christianson. 

I have a reputation for eating a lot. 

I think Anthony, (co worker at Circle K) was right...I do put everything in my left leg.

I was glad to make everyone laugh with my silliness.

We headed out to say goodbyes after Sister Easter's laundry was switched over. 

Sister Easter with her Blanket from Jane

It was important to say goodbye to Jane and her husband. 

Her husband was reeeeeeally upset about her leaving. 

"What do they think they're doin'! 

You're not an object to be just shipped around! 

Your a person with feelings! 

They should give you at least a week to get used to the place, and have someone show you around!"

"Honey, this is what they signed up for. This change is a part of mission. This is expected," Jane said, very understanding. 

But her husband was still really upset. 

Jane.. she even gave Sister Easter a blanket, which is HUGE In the Native culture, a huuuuge sign of respect.

I'll miss you MORE than I ever imagined!

So after a lot of phone calls and about three stop by in order to tell people goodbye, the other Sisters came and we said goodbye... She might even finish her mission at the reservation. She only has 3 transfers left. Well, and a half...

So I was with Sister Bell the rest of the day. And I drove. Again, weird.

On With Mission Life... Sans My Trainer (Sister Easter)

Friday we had scheduled exchanges. We did exchanges as scheduled, so I worked with Sister Christianson in my area. Just working with ALL the Sisters! May as well though, seriously. But, it was a struggle that day. I was really emotionally stressed with the pressure of having to make all the decisions for the area, having not very much to work with and feeling the pressure, not because of the sister training leader, but just because of myself to have a well rounded day, and I couldn't say, 'hey, know how to get there?' I couldn't say that anymore and just... all the changes and emotional stress... it was really hard. I cried, but Sister Christianson is such a good Sister Training leader. She knows how to teach and to comfort. She helped be so much and I'm so grateful for her kindness and her knowledge and her example. She helped me understand that the Lord has blessed me. And I understood that before, but she put it in a way that was so precise and.. yeah. It was so helpful and comforting. I love Sister Christianson and how she cares for me.

So the exchange was successful and I learned a lot. And I've learned a lot from Sister Bell too. I've come to really respect her in these past three days and the way she does missionary work. Just the way she views it, her work ethic, and the way she teaches. I've seen it and I have a lot to learn and a lot of confidence to gain. I feel or have felt inadequate, mostly because of situational reasons that I have very little control of, and by having this all be it jarring opportunity to work with Sister Bell for a short time and to work with the area 5 Sisters for the rest of the transfer starting tomorrow after zone conference, the Lord has blessed me with a new situation where I can work up that confidence, truly paving the way for me to work up to being the missionary that I envision myself being.

I do feel confident in taking over the area. Sister Springer and Sister Paniagua teach SO many lessons, and I've always wanted to know how they do it. Now I get to work with them and see first hand. I am, so, incredibly excited for that. I will be working in downtown Bismark now, as well as in my own area which is North of downtown. I will also be staying at their apartment as well, but I'm still going to be able to receive mail from the same address. Our apartments aren't that far from each other. I know that I will see growth in my area as I see growth in myself. I'm at peace with the changes that are happening and the improvement which need to happen in myself which won't come easily, but I'm so looking forward to impressing on my character. The Lord seriously is so kind to be in granting me this blessing, these 'changes in the area.' I thank my Heavenly Father for the miracles I have seen. I want to make him proud of me and not waste a moment of this opportunity.

14 - Thorns in our Investigator's Sides

This week was actually quite eventful, more eventful than this post explains.

It was a pretty great week if I do say so myself.

You remember back when I told the story of doorbell ditching the pictures of Jesus for people? Well this is the lady who it was really meant for who I never gave a name. Her name I will give her is Jane, the sweetest lady and so full of understanding concerning spiritual things.

Retirement Party for "Jane" at Miverva's

The TR Waiters Greeting Sister Easter for Her Birthday

She retired on Thursday and she invited us to her dinner reception at Miverva's and paid for us to come and everything. Super nice. She was really anxious about retiring before her 30 year mark (29 years 5 months and 5 days, but who's counting, to quote her, haha) because of multiple reasons. It's a big adjustment and she is a hard worker, but there are medical issues popping up now with her and her husband especially, and even her extended family that also live here that she needs to focus on. It'll be good for her to retire so she can give one hundred percent to taking care of herself and her family. We are so proud of her, and we foresee her and her husband progressing a lot more quickly in the gospel now that she doesn't have to work so much.

AND, it was Sister Easter's birthday yesterday on August third! We celebrated the day before though by going out to lunch at Texas Roadhouse.


Our waiter was trying way to hard though.



Six Sister missionaries, one overenthusiastic waiter. It was amusing to say the least.

The Bismarck Sister Missionaries at the Texas Roadhouse

I absolutely loooooooove going out to eat with friends. It's pretty much the best thing ever to celebrate your birthday.



You just laugh and laugh and laugh! And you 'can' do that at the apartment to, but then the other set of sisters wouldn't be with us seeing as you can't just go over and hang out as missionaries, and there's just something about being in a restaurant that just makes it better.

A "Care Package" for Sister Easter to have on her birthday!

I'm really glad that we got to go out for lunch on Saturday.


Oh, and she turned 22, kind of an older missionary age wise with all the young rush of girls with the age
change, and also has been out the longest, sooooooo an over the hill candle was needed. Courtesy of the companion. lol

What are Companions for?
To eat what the "birthday girl" can't!

She also ate too much, because the Sister's weren't very wise in budgeting how many rolls they ate, being as they just keep the rolls a comin' at the Roadhouse, and they are super good.



But, yeah, she couldn't eat her ice cream. But that's what companions are for!










And the Sisters even snagged the candle and used it later that night for a cake they made with the help of a member! Complete surprise to us! Super nice. :)




The only problem with eating lots in the middle of the day is you get really. really. .....really..... ....sluggish. Or, lethargic as my brother Noah would describe the feeling as.
...And it was hot and muggy.
...And we didn't wanna tract.
...But we had no appointments.
...But we didn't want to tract... sigh.
So we tried seeing less actives, and actually we got in with one, so that was good. She lived in a retirement home. I'll have to tell you about it later.

We were a little better after seeing those cute old ladies. Still didn't want to tract though. But we had to...... siiiiigh. And when we got out of the car... "What the-!? ..Wh-??" Sister Easter was looking up at the sky irritated and confused. "I just got wet!" ..What?? There were no clouds in the sky! or well like, one dippy little white cloud above us, and that's it! But then I felt something, and then we saw a few water spots appear on the car. It was raining. Right here. No where else. What?? So confusing! ..I guess we had our own little personal rain cloud for our down in the dumps mood of not wanting to do anything.
But, it's during those times of no wanting to do anything that miracles happen. Because Satan knows if he can get you to be idol right then, then it will delay the miracle. And indeed, a miracle did happen. ...

Behold, a sower went forth to sow; ...And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: (Matthew 13:3,7).

This story dates back to May 17th. I had only been in Bismark for three weeks. Now I've been here for about four months, to put it in perspective. Saturday May 17th was my first experience with exchanges. We are very privileged to live in the same apartment as the Sister training leader. It makes exchanges super easy. You just switch beds and you're good! Can use the same bathroom you usually use to get ready and everything, cuz yeah, exchanges are a twenty-four hour thing. They happen once a transfer one of the people in the companionship can work with the Sister training leader, who is Sister Christianson right now, and they can see how you're doing in your area and you can learn from them. And the other person in the companionship gets to work with the Sister training leader's companion. I love exchanges. It's great to switch things up.

Anyway, Sister Christianson and Sister Easter were working in our area while I was working with Sister Neilson in her area on Saturday May 17th. Sister Chirstianson and Sister Easter basically spent the whole day tracting. That was the day that Spanish speaking investigator and I was also super excited to hear about another great potential investigator they came in contact with. He was on his lawn playing frisbee golf and they went up to him and talked with him about the church and he said he was looking to go back to church. He confided in them that he had been humbled by getting caught in possession of illegal marijuana, and how it was dumb on his part and that he'd never do anything like that again. He believed there could be a modern day prophet. And when they gave him our number, they were about to leave when he stopped them saying, "wait, I should give you my number!"

I was so excited to hear this! Almost jealous because I wasn't the one to meet this guy! AH! He was super solid! Golden! I was so excited! We all were!

Except... he would never be home all the times we tried back. And he would never answer the phone... He did once, but idk if it was a bad connection or what but we couldn't understand him. And apparently we found out from his parents when we knocked on the door that he just worked a lot and basically his only free day is Saturday, or night rather. So that was good to know. But we STILL were having a horrid time contacting him. Until..

HE CALLED US!! AH! It was a miracle! And we were gonna set up an appointment! I don't know why he wasn't able to right then, but AH! I frantically wrote home that day because I just HAD to share in the excitement. And.. he did call us back. But we were in an appointment so we missed it. And... we were then back to square one. It was lame. ...

So another month passed. We still tried to call him occasionally. Sent him a text on the fourth of july. All that good stuff... And there were no real fruits from it... but weeks and weeks later on August 2nd, this day.....
We were trying to contact a less active in Zach's neighborhood. We didn't wanna tract.. sigh. But she didn't answer. Well... guess we were going to be tracting when...

This guy zooms past on his scooter: "Hi!" he calls and! Sister Easter turns to me: "It's Skater!" (Name has been changed. I call him Skater because he's 20 years old and he totally looks like a hippy/skater boy.) And he turns around and is like, "Hey! Did you want to sit down and talk or something still? You busy right now?"
HECK NO WE'RE NOT BUSY RIGHT NOW!!! What was that about tracting? WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

So we went over and we TAUGHT SKATER!!! He's super prepared! Has been wanting to know about other churches and decide for himself! He says his parents have been mainly holding him back because they are devout Christian, no if's and's or but's about it. The restoration lesson was a lot for him to take in. We didn't get all the way through. But he said he'd come to church tomorrow! And that he'd read the pamphlet! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Best birthday present for Sister Easter EVER!!!

...But we got a text from him after he 'didn't' come to church on the 3rd. "Hey, after learning more about the Mormon religion I've decided to stay in the Christian faith. Thank you for understanding."
..............
...This is a Christian faith. ......
This is the third explicit time where we have been dropped like this. They don't even know what they are declining. His parents talked to him, curled their thorns of bias around him and choked him...

...We are sick of people dropping us like 'this.' We won't stand for it.

We sent him a text back. Saying this is a Christian church and asking why he doesn't want to learn more. And we said the offer still stands for him to come to the young single adult break-the-fast meal at 4:15, that he still has friends here even if he decides this isn't the religion he wants for him. It was a nice message. Bold with love. No response back. We're still going to see him on Tuesday. He needs the gospel more than he knows. He's so prepared...

I know our paths crossed for a reason. And they didn't cross just to get him to go back to church. It was to teach him the truth, the fullness of the gospel.