2nd MTC Email

Hallo!!

Oh my goodness, this week has been INSANE!!! I have so much to tell you and just not enough time! My hands just aren't fast enough!!! Things are going GREAT here in the MTC.  We got to hear from Richard G. Scott yesterday for our Tuesday Devotional.  He is so spectacular!!!  I'm in the MTC Choir, and we got to sing Be Still My Soul for him! (You can tell Mr. Mills how much I LOVE being in an actual choir again)  Our director is SO FUNNY!  Everytime we go to choir, he has an awesome messageto go along with whatever song we are singing.  this time, he gave us some statistics of how big the universe really is, blowing our minds of course.  Then he told us that all that is controlled by God, and our souls have no reason to not be still.  We can do ANYTHING when our will matches that of the Father's.  We are unstoppable!

So, really cool story:  One of our teachers, Bror Williams (also played Lars, our first investigator),  served his mission in Norway. Actually all four of our teachers did.  I was talking to him and asked which areas he had served in, and one of the areas was Sandvika.  I asked him if he knew Eline Solberg, and he said, "Is her dad's name Brede?" I was like YES!! Apparently, Brede helped them with some car stuff, and Bror Williams even taught them a couple times I think... It was all in Norwegian, so thats what I gathered, but YEAH!! Cool stuff! I started freaking out. connections are awesome!

Our new investigator for this week is Linn.  we've only had one lesson with her,so we don't know much, but I was able to connect with her because she is going to school studying health just like I was.  Very cool!  Her parents divorced when she was ten, and she lost her faith because she had prayed to keep her family together, and it didn't happen.  So she's had a rough time, but I know that this gospel can make her so happy! More than she realizes now :)

To answer everyone's questions: Yes, I have gotten the DearElder letters, and I LOVE them!! we get mail delivered twice a day and it's always so awesome to hear from home! I didn't get dad's as you know, but I got his email, and yes dad..... You made me BAWL! But luckily for me, my companion gives good hugs :) haha!

I loved seeing the homecoming pictures! The girls looked simply GORGEOUS!!!!! I'm so glad they had fun, and had awesome rides!  I don't know if I ever told Heather about the police escort I got for my Junior year homecoming.... haha! but yeah!  I'm glad they got to ride in style!

We are all SO EXCITED for the temple dedication on Sunday.  And the bookstore has plenty of white handkerchiefs for then.  They've got to with all us missionaries! OOH!!!! That reminds me along with the choir I mentioned earlier, WE MIGHT GET TO SING IN GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!!! Might... just might... we'll know for sure by next Sunday! so I'll let ya know!

The language is coming great!  It's really great that I was exposed to some Norwegian before I came here so I can pick up on most of the pronunciation.  It is SUCH a fun language! I find myself even dreaming in Norwegian now... haha!!! The food is fantastic, but having to climb 5 stories to class three times a day is keeping off the weight, so that's good ;) haha!!

I heard from Miranda that Rachel got her glasses!!!!! I want to see a picture! I bet she just looks GORGEOUS!!! :) Man I miss those kids.  Give them BIG HUGS from Aunt Jess for me!

Welp!! That's about all I can think to tell ya this time, but I love you all SOOOO MUCH, and I can't wait to get to Norway! LESS THAN A MONTH LEFT!!

Jeg er glad i deg,

Soster Heywood

Jessica said this was "Bee-Day".  These three sisters all showed up  in yellow and black to class one morning.












This is Jessica's District.  They are all the missionaries going to Norway who entered the MTC  Sept. 3.  There are 11 Sisters and 4 Elders.

He's been there before!

This past week has been filled with so many emotions... First off, I have now been graduated from high school for a year, and it is now the next years turn to graduate.  For some reason this has made me suddenly reminiscent, and I find myself looking back at high school, and all of the memories I had there.  It also causes me to look at this past year, and see how much I have changed since my graduation day. I can look back on my trials and see that they were really blessings in disguise from my Heavenly Father.  He is the only one who can really see who I can become, and because I had done my best to put my life in His hands, He was able to shape and mold me into who I am today.

"An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward.

When life is dragging you back with difficulties,

it means you will soon be launched into something great.

So just focus, and keep aiming."

There have been times where I could only feel myself dragging back.  In fact, through most of my trials, that's all I could see.  However, looking back, I can see that I have been launched forward further than I could have ever dreamed. 

Moral of the story?? Keep your arrow aimed straight throughout whatever trial or hardship you are facing, and patiently wait for the release.  It will always be worth the pull back.

The following poem was shared with me by another future sister missionary, and it has really given me some perspective about my mission and the trials that I'm sure to face out there. Enjoy!

“The Alarm bell rings at 6:30, I stumble to my feet 

I grab my companions bedding and pull off his sheets

A groan fills the room, is it already time to rise?

It seems like just a second ago I was able to shut my eyes.

The morning activities follow- study, prayer and such

When it’s time to leave the apartment, you feel you haven’t accomplished much

“We have a super day planned,” My comp. says with a grin

I lowly utter a faithless breath, “Yeah, if anyone lets us in.”

With the word of God and my faithful twin, we ride off in the street

Prepared to face another day of humidity and heat

It’s 9:30 in the evening, the day is almost through

My champion and I are riding home not accomplishing what we thought to do

We ride up to the mailbox, hoping to receive a lot

Only to look inside and hear my echo reverberate “air Box”

We go up to our apartment, the day is now complete

The only thing to show for our work is a case of blistery feet

It’s past 10:30 p.m. My companion is fast asleep,

Silence engulfs me all about and I begin to weep

In the midst of sadness, I kneel down to pray

I need to talk to Father, but I’m not sure what to say

“Oh, Father” I begin, “What happened to us today?

I thought we’d teach somebody, but everyone was away

My hands, my aching hands- worn, hurt and beat;

If our area was any smaller, we’d have knocked every street”

“Why on missions are the days so much alike?

The only difference about today was the flat tire on my bike

Will you send some cooler weather? The heat is killing me

I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes, it’s very hard to see”

“Why do I have to wear a helmet, isn’t your protection enough?

People always laugh at me, and call me stupid stuff

Please send us investigators so I may give them what they lack

I want to give them Books of Mormon, the weight of them hurts my back”

“And what about my family: They don’t have much to say

I’m sick of not hearing from home day after day after day

Oh Father, Why am I here am I just wasting time?

Sometimes I just want to go home, I’m sorry but that’s on my mind”

“My companion, Heavenly Father, what are you giving me?”

The way he rides his bicycle, I don’t think he can see

Now you have it, I can’t go on, I don’t know what to do

That, my Father in Heaven, is the prayer I have for you”

My prayer now finished, I stand up, then jump right into bed

I need my rest for tomorrow, we have another long day ahead

Sleep starts to overtake me, I seem to drift away

Then it seems a vision takes me to another time in another day

I’m standing alone on the hill. The view is very nice

A man walks towards me and says, “My name is Jesus Christ”

Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down to His feet

“Arise,” He states, “Follow me to the shade. You and I need to speak”

My attention’s towards my Savior, total and complete

He says, “Your mission is similar of what happened to me

I understand how you feel, I know what you’re going through

In fact, it would be fair to say I’ve felt the same as you”

“I even know how you felt when no one listened to you

At times I felt not quite sure what else I could do

I know you don’t like to ride a bicycle, for you a car would be sweet

Just remember the donkey I rode wasn’t equipped with 21 speeds”

“I understand you don’t like sweating, in fact it’s something you hate

I remember when I sweat blood from ev’ry pore, oh the agony was great!

I see you don’t like your companion - you’d rather have someone else-

I once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth”

“It’s hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of you

I remember when they put thorns on my head and called me King of the Jews

So you feel burdened down by the weight of your pack

I recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back”

“Your hands hurt from tracting and knocking on doors all day

I guess when they pounded nails into mine, I ached in a similar way

It’s hard not to hear from home when your family’s not there to see

I lost communication on the cross and cried, “Father, why hast Thou forsaken me?”

“We have a lot in common, but there’s a difference between us you see

I endured to the end and finished my mission, so follow and do like me”

He embraced me with His arms and His light filled me with His love

With tears in my eyes I watched as He went back to the Father above

I stood with awe and wonder when a beep rang in my head

I listened and heard the alarm, then realized I was in my bed

My companion let out a groan, “6:30 already, no way!”

I sat up and said, “Come on, I’ll even carry your scriptures today!”

No matter what we go through,

when we feel we can’t take more

Just stop and think about Jesus Christ,

He’s been there before."

I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I am so excited to represent Him in EVERYTHING I do, including the small things like carrying a backpack. I am not called to simply serve in a place, but I AM called to serve in the place of my Savior.

Now it's real

 

OH MY GOODNESS.  These last few months have been completely filled with trial after trial and blessing after blessing.  I made my final decision in January to start my mission papers and find out where my Heavenly Father wants me to serve.  After four long months of filling in paperwork, going to doctors appointments, and going to school I FINALLY got my mission call!! 

Now to backtrack a few years... During my freshman year in high school, my family hosted a foreign exchange student from Norway.  She and I immediately became best friends and just like sisters.  I look up to her just as much as I do my other older sisters.  She stayed for her exchange year, then had to return (sadly) to Norway.  She since then has come back twice more to visit.  I just love this girl SO much!  The most recent time she was here, we asked her if we could invite the missionaries to come  talk to her and teach her.  She said that would be alright, but after the first lesson, she had to go back to Norway again.  I prayed for her, and hoped that someone in Norway would touch her in some way.  We have both teased back and forth about me getting called to Norway on my mission, but I knew that the odds of that were EXTREMELY slim! 

On April 23rd I received my mission call to, you guessed it, the Norway Oslo mission!!! I couldn't believe what I was reading!!! As you can imagine, those faithful water gates of mine opened up and I couldn't stop crying.  I KNOW that my Heavenly knows me and knows what I can do even more than I do.  I never imagined that the answer to my prayers would be me.  

I leave for the Provo MTC on September 3rd, meaning I get to wait another long four months!  In the meantime I guess I can read the Book of Mormon again, shop for some supplies, and maybe even learn a little Norwegian while I'm at it!

I am so grateful to my Father in Heaven for giving me an opportunity to share His gospel with the people of Norway.  The gospel of Jesus Christ has brought me more joy than I could ever imagine! I love my Savior and I am so excited to represent Him and serve in His place for 18 months! 

On Your Knees

I've been working as a CNA since last May and I absolutely love the residents that I get to work with! They are so funny, and a lot of the ones that I work with are SO in tune with the Spirit it's AMAZING!! Just last night I walked into a lady's room to check on her, and she was in her pajamas and down on her knees! She is an older lady, and doesn't move well, so I thought she had fallen!!! It scared me, so I called her name, and she just glanced up and said, "SHHH!! I'm saying my prayers!!" Then looked back down. It was great! I let her finish, then helped her up, and talked with her for a while.  She told me that ever since the day she got married, (in 1947), she and her husband prayed ON THEIR KNEES EVERY NIGHT!!!! They NEVER missed a single night! On every vacation, every stressful night, even on nights when they were fighting! And even though he's gone now, she said she feels him with her whenever she prays on her knees! Isn't that SO COOL?! I know sometimes I forget to say my prayers at night until I'm already in bed, and here is this inspiring lady who is really sick, already has plenty of knee problems, but still she gets down on her knees every night!! I just love it! This experience really strengthened my testimony of prayer and how truly important it is! WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO TALK TO OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN ANYTIME WE WANT TO! He will never put us on hold, or be too busy to listen to us. Talk to Him as often as you can, because when we don't He misses us! I know that though prayer we can call upon our Father with any question or struggle and HE WILL BE THERE!!! always. If you are new to this blog and have any questions about what I believe, feel free to ask! I love the questions!!! Good Night everyone! Don't forget to put on your smile tomorrow!!

So Will Christ!!

I already did my long post for the night, but I didn't want to go to sleep without giving an invitation!  If anyone reading this, has any questions about my religion, what I believe, or even my favorite color, FEEL FREE TO ASK!! I love to get feedback and answer anything that I can!! Thank you!

Also, this girl, Al Fox, is incredible!  If you haven't already, follow her blog, watch her videos, and be inspired by her message!!

"Hard times will consistently be there, but so will Christ!"

-Al Fox

When Life Gives You Garbage...

HOLY SMOKES!  Has it really been almost two months since my last post!? I apologize to anyone reading this, but with this new year, comes new goals and I have quite the list!

1. Finish the Book of Mormon before I leave on my mission (in July)

2. Study the Preach My Gospel manual EVERY MORNING before I leave my room.

3. Talk to somebody about what I believe at least once a month.

4. POST MORE ON THE BLOG

5. Pray EVERY night and morning and truly come to know my Heavenly Father.

6.  See others as Christ sees them!!

This last month has been a rough spot in my life.  As soon as I made the official decision to go on a mission, it seemed that Satan threw everything he had at me.  I had more temptations with things I never have before, problems with obedience, unnecessary stress, opposition, and trials left and right!  I have felt completely alone.  I felt like I was letting down my Heavenly Father, and that the damage was done.  I could feel myself getting deeper into spiritual trouble!  This new year has been a great opportunity to start fresh and remember why I am a member of this church, and what my purpose is as a latter-day-saint, future missionary, and daughter of God.

Anyone that knows me well will tell you that I am a BIG nerd when it comes to musicals!  I love to sing and act and I ESPECIALLY love to go and see shows, no matter the quality.  A few years ago, I went to see a show with a friend, and there was one song that really hit me at the time.  It was in no way a church related show, but I found myself taking this particular song in a spiritual sense.  The song is called "Come Out of the Dumpster", sung by a girl comforting her friend who is, well, currently and literally inside of a dumpster.  One line in particular says:

"When Life gives you garbage, you use it to CLIMB!"

This garbage in my life, this stress, and opposition can be used to make me stronger and to raise me to new heights that I haven't reached yet.  All I can do is thank my Heavenly Father for the experiences that He is giving me.  I can pray for understanding and an eternal perspective through my trials.  I can remember who I am as a Daughter of a Heavenly Father who loves me beyond what I can imagine! He gives me my trials because He KNOWS what I can accomplish!!

"And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along.  The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours."

 -D&C 78:18

This scripture is another reason I'm deciding to start fresh!  To me, it is saying that I can be forgiven for anything.  I'm not expected to "bear all things".  My Heavenly Father doesn't expect me to be perfect now.  He wants my best, and if my best isn't pleasing me, at least I can know that I am pleasing my Father in Heaven.

"So you're out of the dumpster, was that so hard after all?  It was only a dumpster, and from here it looks so small."

I can't wait until the day when I can look back at my life and the things that are "so important" now will just be little stumbling blocks.  I know that my Heavenly Father loves me personally as His very own daughter.  I know that He wants nothing less than the best for me.  I love this gospel with all of my heart! It is changing my life everyday! Happy New Year, and Happy New YOU!!!

Ever Onward!!

This weekend I had the AMAZING opportunity to attend a 2-day conference for future missionaries. The first day, about 350 of us filed into the chapel and waited for the meeting to start.  This being a missionary conference, the opening hymn was, of course, Called to Serve. We stood to sing and it was so moving!  I had an overwhelming felling of love for everyone in that room, and I imagined all of us standing in the MTC together ready to go out and take the truth of this gospel to all the world!  For the first time, I really understood the words that we were singing!

Called to serve Him, Heavenly King of glory

Chosen e'er to witness for His name,

Far and wide we tell the Father's story,

Far and wide His love proclaim.

Called to know the richness of His blessing,

Sons and Daughters; Children of a King,

Glad of heart His holy name confessing

Praises unto Him we bring.

Onward, ever onward, as we glory in His name,

Onward, ever onward, as we glory in His name,

Forward, pressing forward, as a triumph song we sing:

God our strength will be, press forward ever

CALLED TO SERVE OUR KING!!!

I had never had a song just hit me like that.  This song outlines the whole reason that young men and women choose to leave their families for two years.  If you know something to be true, wouldn't you want to share it with everyone?  I think of all of the joy that this gospel brings to me, and I can't imagine not sharing it with the world!

As I was driving home the night of the first day, I had a thought to pray to my Heavenly Father and just ask Him if He truly loved me.  I said a quick prayer there in the car, with the radio off, and asked Him just that.  I sat in silence for the rest of the way home.  The next morning, I left at 7:30 to go to the second session of the conference.  The second day was full of great workshops about how to teach people about the church and some even taught how to get along with a companion!  Then we all met in the chapel for the closing meeting and Elder Summerhays was there, and he was the concluding speaker.  He gave an amazing talk, and at the end he paused for a few seconds then said, "Someone here needs to hear this" Then he looked right at me, sitting in the back row and said,

"Your Heavenly Father loves you more than you can imagine.  

He will ALWAYS be with you."

My jaw dropped!  He was talking right to me!  How could he know that I had asked that question the day before? I couldn't believe it!!  I know that Heavenly Father answers prayers and that He loves all of His children beyond measure!  I know that we can pray to know that anything is true!