December 10, 2018 - The Last Melon

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE SURPRISED I MADE IT THIS FAR 

🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️

Y'all. This is the last melon. The last bite of the hamburger. The cherry on top. The one to top them all. The finale. This is my last week as a missionary. *cue intense spy person music* 

Before I get much more dramatic let's talk about my week. It is, after all, all about me. 🙃

We had our interviews with President Lee this week!! Mine was all about boys which was about as much fun as you can imagine. We had a great district council though after that. Sister Anderson and I got to train about the importance of working with our members. Honestly, I love working so closely with members of our ward. They make it easy because they're kind of the best. It was fun to train with Sister Anderson! She is such an incredible missionary. 

On Thursday, we had our misison wide Christmas party!! We started with skits from each zone and it was hilarious. My life was made complete when President Lee and the assistants came out in light-up-llama-Christmas onesies. I could die happy now! It was so funny!! Our skit was a blast. Then we had lunch and moved into the chapel for our music devotional. Before we started that President surprised us by having all the departing missionaries give their last testimony in front of the mission. Never fear, your girl held it together and didn't cry. I have grown a lot!! 😉 I sung in a few of the musical numbers and I'm grateful I did. I love music and the spirit it brings. It was really fun to see all my friends and be able to say goodbye to all of them. I love them so much!!!! 

I finally got my chance to serve in Jacksonville that day when I went on a trade-off with the one and only SISTER DANIELS!?!?!?! Who would've thought that would have happened!!! It was a blast. We got to see how much we had both changed over the last 18 months. It was a blessing to be with my best friend. 

On Saturday, Sister Anderson and I spent her birthday (welcome to the old folks club of 21🎉🎁🎈) in Palatka for a split/blitz. I went with Sister Garcia which is pretty hilarious and here's why: she does not have a license and mine expired when I turned 21 so neither of us can drive. Which meant we biked. Like a lot. We went to lunch with the other sisters and then we biked to our next appointment. Which meant straIGHT TWO HOURS OF BIKING. I CANNOT FEEL MY PATOOTY. That is all I will say about that experience. 

Y'all I have loved these last 18 months so much. I hadn't always liked it, I've had some really hard days. I have had so many experiences that I almost wished I hadn't. However I am very much aware "that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." (Doctrine and Covenants 122:7) I am so blessed to have been able to serve and love the people of Florida and represent my Savior. I love Him with all my heart. I have been reflecting on the greatest thing I have learned and I know that God is our Father in Heaven and He loves us. I am a witness of His love. This church is true and the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored. It's here and when we abide by those principles, we can be happy. This is the happiest I have been and it's all because of Him. I love being a missionary. 

See you on the flippity flop 💕🐊

Sister Garcia and I taking on Palatka one knock at a time

Baby K 💕 (I am seriously so proud of the missiomary she has become despite her holy mess of a trainer 🤗)

Sister Daniels and I made it full circle

Do you even have comp unity if you don't match at the Christmas party??

I love my companion so so much. She is a blessing to me.

I really really love being a missionary

December 03, 2018 - The Week of #LightTheWorld 🌟🌎

Another blessed week here in St. Augustine!!!! What a place to be during the holiday season. I stinkin love it.

This week was crazy busy but what week isn't!!! Here are some highlights! 

Highlight 1: TRADE-OFF WITH THE SISTER MORSE!!!!! This killer sister has been out for just over 9 months and she is sooooo good. We knocked 1473828374 doors with no good fortune. She was a trooper! Finally we decided to try one last door before we skipped on home for a lesson. We tried to see Megan who I found and taught my first round in St. Augustine! She answered and she let us teach her again! This time she's got a baby! It was such a miracle! We also got to have a lesson with a recent convert in Orlando!! He's deaf, so we are lucky enough to teach him. Sister Morse was a champ to sit during that lesson and deal with my horrible voice interpretting skills. I love that woman. 

Highlight 2: WORLDWIDE DAY OF SERVICE!!! Yesssss let's GOOOO!!!!!! Sister Anderson and I did some Christmas service and decorated others houses for Christmas. I love #LightTheWorld and so should you. Go look it up and participate! Don't be a party pooper.

Highlight 3: For some reason everyone gave us bread this week. Sister Anderson and I refuse to buy bread because we have no self control and we eat all of it.... but we are now the proud owners of quite a few loaves. #blessed 

Highlight 4: Tis the season for caroling!!!!! I stinkin love spreading Christmas cheer for all to hear. We went as a district and it was a party and a half. Out of tune but good otherwise. We had one woman give us a box of truffles (pray for my waistline)! Another gave us her family's Christmas card since we gave her own of ours (a #LightTheWorld card)! I love this place. 

Alright fam!! I LOVE y'all!!! 

THIS MAN right here

My girl and I doing our #LightTheWorld service

💕

I'm preparing to go home the best way I know how

If you look close, my shirt is the same shirt I was wearing in my bread pic. Yes, we got milkshakes and loaves of bread on the same day

November 19, 2018 - The Week of Deja Vu

You know, it's suprisingly hard to figure out how to spell deja vu.... But it's the only word that accurately describes my week. 

It feels so surreal to be back in the beautiful St. Augustine Shores area!!!! Churhc was so funny. Some of the members couldn't quite figure out how they knew me so there was a lot of awkward stares. Good thing awkward is my forte. 😁 I love these people so stinkin much!! 

We are teaching some seriously elect people!!! Good night I love being a missionary. We are teaching this woman named Amanda. She wants to follow Jesus Christ and be baptized!!! She's incredible. 

For all the true fans, you'll probably remember one of my most fav people Morgan. Turns out she's being taught by the sisters again!!! Imagine her surprise when I showed up on her doorstep. It was cute. Ah I love her. 

Last year, I got to got to go to Night of Lights in St. Augustine. For all my Utahans, it's kind of like Temple Square lights. It's a big deal. It was so fun and we handed out so many #LightTheWorld cards. I am so lucky because I got to go again on Saturday!!!!!! LITERALLY SO MUCH FUN!!!! After we finally parked and got out of the insane traffic, we had about 40 minutes to blitz downtown st. Augustine. Sister Anderson and I made a goal to hand out 20 card to 20 people. We not only handed out 20 but 22!! I loved being able to talk to so many different people in such a short amount of time. It was a blast. 

OH MY LANDS. I FORGOT. Let me introduce you to the one and only SISTER ANDERSON!!!!!

Fun facts: 

1) She is the only daughter with 4 brothers 
2) She is a piano wizard 
3) She gets sick incredibly easily (she caught my half-hearted cold and is now dying) 
4) I will be the first missionary she sends home 
5) She also has a sweet tooth (#prayforourhealth) 

These past few days have been a BLAST with her!! She's been very patient with my constant outbursts of "OH THIS IS SO WEIRD" and my "wait I know that person!!" She is so fun and I'm such a lucky lady to have her as my companion!!! 

I love y'all and I will see you on the flippity flop ✌

Night of Lights!!!

It's Christmas time here in the shores

October 29, 2018 - The Week of White

Hey it's fall y'all!!! I know it's been fall for a minute but it's FINALLY starting to cool down enough where if we pretend the ground has leaves on it, it feels like fall.

This week was crazy, per usual. We had back-to-back trade'offs, a baptism and a wedding. Here's lots of pictures that describe everything better than I can. Lots of love 😙

Cute Sister Clark and I ate our weight in tators, creamed corn, fried chicken and all sorts of bad-for-you-gooodness on our trade-off!!

In between wedding prep and trade-off's we got a little loopy...

Welcome the newest member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kay!!!!! 

Sleepy Studies

Bff Sis K

No one with a key to the font was texting us fast enough do we panicked and tried to break in... It was unsuccessful

October 22, 2018 - The Week I Heard the Bells 🔔❤🔔❤

Sister Knudsen and I are living breathing testimonials of what we call "stress zits." After spending wayyyy too many hours decorating the wedding cakes and many nights belting out Josh Groban's "You raise Me Up" so I could be prepared to sing the wedding song with a TON of prayers, we finally did it. Kay and Claude are hitched!!! All-in-all it was a beautiful ceremomy and we are soooo happy for them!! Next stop: baptismal font! Kay is getting baptized by her new husband (aw cute) this Thursday!! Ah this couple really is the greatest and we are so blessed to have them in our lives!

We experienced so many miracles this week!! We got a text from a member who wanted us to come over and teach her 3 children so they can also be baptized  (!?!?!?!?!?!)! #blessed We finally met with a member referral and she is

G O L D E N!!

We also had zone conference where we were told we are all getting new kitchen appliances!!!!! You may now call me an adult because I have never been more excited about bowels and knives in my entire existence.

It's been a good week and this week is going to be even better!! Sorry for the crummy weekly but at least I sent one right? 😙

The wedding cakes we accomplished

I was honored with a gigantic boutonniere for the wedding..... get on my level

I also got the bouquet ✔

Mini stress relief post-wedding

October 08, 2018 - The Week I Wasn't the Worst and Actually Sent Out an Email

Hello hello! I feel like I need to introduce myself again since it's been 5ever. Hi, I'm Sister Allgaier and I'm a missionary from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (NOT the mormon church). 😉

Y'all these last few weeks/months have been insane. I sent my last companion home (honorably of course) and am now serving with one of my favs in the mission field: Sister Knudsen!!! For all the hardcore Alligators (aka my fans) you'll recognize this name. Why? I served with her in a car share for 6 months at the beginning of our missions!! We have made with full circle. Here are some fun facts about my new comp: 

Sister Knudsen 

1) she has been out for 6 weeks less than me
2) her hair touches her tooshy
3) she dabs for everything
4) she has the excitement of a 3 month old pup
5) she likes running (🎉🎉🎉🎉) 

This has been the funniest week so far and I'm PUMPED for the next 5!!! Our transfer motto is "This would be awkward if we didn't know each other." When you are first with a companion you don't know, it's kinda weird. Normally one just has to toot or something to break the ice but it's a solid 3-5 days of awkwardness. Thankfully, because we already know each other so well, we skipped right over that! We hit the ground running and we don't plan ofn stopping.

G.E.N.E.R.A.L. C.O.N.F.E.R.E.N.C.E  Holy cow, we are SO blessed to live in a time where we have a living prophet with apostles and leaders to help guide the church!! I love being able to hear their counsel for the next 6 months! Something that really stood out to me this conference is the emphasis on families. In the church's document, the Family: A Proclamation to the World we learn that "The family is ordained of God." It only makes sense that God would provide instruction and direction to better build unity and faith within the home and in our families. 2 hours of church is a HUGE change but I know it's for our benefit! I'm so excited to see how we can better our gospel learning in the home.

I'll keep it short but I love y'all so much! Thank you for all your support and prayers. I stinkin' love this calling of mine #missionary4life

Confernece in bed. What more could you want?

Last district milkshake moment before we said goodbye to our friends. 💔

Siste..... Mykala Spangler is now home and wearing pants like the good woman she is. 😙

It is my pleasure to officially introduce you to our vehicle: this is, The MommyMissile!! I am the missions minivan mom and I am proud.

September 17, 2018 - The Week of THE Sister Topham

Y'all I am going to be brutally honest, my motivation is negative 600 to write these email so here are some pictures with longer captions than normal #lazy  

Sister Topham is literally the greatest sister being ever!!!! I am such a blessed woman to serve with amazing sisters! I loved this exchange so much. She has the biggest heart! I love her. We had some really spiritual lessons. This girl knows her scriptures my goodness. She's a bomb.commissionary.

We found out that DQ had their fall shakes in so we had to go and try it out. I had Pumpkin Pie and Sister Spangler had Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough. It was 110% worth it. 

I LOVE THE SKY

Just two sweaty sisters

September 10, 2018 - The Week of Many Mighty Miracles

Well, the spirit has gently rebuked me for not sending out a weekly in a bit so here I am, repenting. You're welcome. 🙃

This week has so many amazing/awkward/inspiring/smelly/surprising/sweaty events!!! I'll try and describe them all in a speed round as to not take up too much of your time on this beautiful September 10th morning. Ready, set, GO!! 

Amazing: Sister Spangler and worked our buns off to have people come to church this week. Things fell through, as they always do, but God is so good that He helped our friend, Amy feel like she needed to attend church AND bring her daughter!! 

Awkward: The number of nude humans I have seen as a missionary has increased this week. I won't go into detail. Sidenote: do any of y'all know where one might find some memory wiping spray you could spray eyes with?? Asking for a friend. 

Inspiring: Miss Sandra has officially quit smoking!!! The change in her already is so so amazing to me. My testimony of the word of wisdom has drastically been strengthened on my misison! She's is right on track to be baptized on September 29th! 

Smelly: The beautiful thing about serving where I am is that I am so much more familiar with the different kinds of substances people use to change their moods. #SayNoToDrugsKids 

Surprising: After a lesson with our friend, Miss Kay, she told us that her and her fiance had talked and had decided on a baptism date for October 27th if that was okay with us.              H*CK YES THAT'S OKAY!!! She has such a strong testimony already!! I got to sit next to her during stake conference this weekend and she absolutely loved it. She's a blessing. 

Sweaty: We had zone conference this week. Elder Shurtliff and I sung a duet for the musical number! I'm grateful for people who do things that I tell them to even if they don't want to. 😇😇 If you want to listen to the prettiest song in the world, look up Peace, Be Still by Nate Noble. That's what we sang and I love it with my whole soul. 

Well there's my week in a nutshell!!! I love y'all and I love this blessed land of Cannon Creek. 🚜☀️

Miss Sandra ❤

QuadSquad2k18 (e. Shurtliff, your fav sis missionary, s. Spangler, e. Alder)

S. Spangler and I waiting out the torrential downpour

Miss Photogenic coming in hot 👊

August 27, 2018 - The Week of the 10?!

I LOVE this week!!! Hold tight, it's a wild one. 

I spent the first half of the week with Sister Knudsen in Jax Beach after we both dropped off our companions (rip Emily😢). It was so funny be back by the beach! It reminded me of my forever and day time spent in St. Aug.... *sigh( anyway back to reality! It was so fun to be with her! She came out just 6 weeks after me and we spent 6 months together in st. Aug! We have both changed so much so it was best to spend time with my bff Jill. 😙

On Wednesday, I picked up Sister Spangler and we came back to good ol' Lake City/ Alligator Town. She is a killer missionary!!! Here are some fun facts about my new friend: 

-She is a convert of about 3 years 
-She is the only member in her family 
-She loves Pepsi 
-She has 5 weeks left on her mission 
-She finished all of My Plan already so I don't have sit through that again 👐👐
-She's not even trunky!!! 

We had a killer week!!! We went to go see a woman we had been working with. She lives in a very sketchy place so people are always in and out of her house. Because of that we were able to hold an impromptu scripture study and found 10 new people to teach!!!! Y'all, lake city is B L E S S E D. 

This week I was studying happiness and I learned that there are 4 things we can do to increase your happiness. Get your notebook and pen out cause these are good.  

1. Learn to laugh 
2. Seek for the eternal 
3. Learn and have faith in the principle of compensation 
4. Trust in the Father and the Son 

I PROMISE you that this is true. Happiness is so attainable!! Even when you're sweating in August in Florida on a bike, in a skirt. 

I love y'all!!! ❤☀️

Elder Shurtliff thought it would be a good idea to put a snake on me 🙃 If you look closely you can probably see my tears.... don't mind the double chin. It only comes out when I'm scared.

My girl Sister Studdert!!! #mapleton5ever

My fav temporary comp 😙

Perks of going to the other side of the mission for a minute: SIS NEWMAN!!!!

August 06, 2018 - The Week of Miracles

Hello hello!!! I didn't have any desire or motivation to write an email this week so I hope y'all forgive me.... Anyway let's talk about this last week in Alligator Town. 

I have never seen so many miracles in one week! Here's the lineup: 

Miracle #1

We didn't have a lot of finding time in Saturday but we had goals we wanted to meet. We spent the last hour of the night trying to find some people with potential. We went to try to find a woman named Filer that we had met a few weeks ago. She wasn't home but she and some family members were across the street. She yelled at us to come and talk to them all. Those ladies were literally our Bff's within the first 5 minutes. They thought we were hilarious (can you blame them?) and want us to come back to teach them and more of their family!!! It was so crazy. 

Miracle #2 

We were sitting in church after sacrament meeting and our sunday school president comes over to tell us there's a woman who wants to meet with us! Her soon-to-be husband just moved into our ward and brought her to church!! We are meeting with them on Tuesday. They are so sweet and we are so excited to starting teaching them!! 

Miracle #3

I was so blessed to go on a trade-off with Sister Rydalch! She is in her first transfer and this girl is a P O W E R H O U S E. She has so much fire in her!!! We taught some good people, knocked on some doors and ate a bomb dinner with some members. It was so fun and I learned so much from her. 

Y'all, Cannon Creek is literally so blessed. I love it here and I love that I get to be here with my best friend!!!!! Have a beautiful week and I will see y'all on the flippity flop. 

The one, the only, siiiissssttteeeerrrrr RYDALCH!!! ❤

The Trade-Off Crew

Our mini missionary (We start 'em young here in the south)

July 23, 2018 - The Week of Team Bloody Knuckles

Stink y'all, today has flown... as has this week! Here's the rundown: 

1) I flipping love my companion. Sister Winona is literally an angel in Cinderella's body and I love her with my entire being. 

2) We had our leadership council this week and I saw all my best friends!!!! I'm a happy camper. We learned lots of good things as well so don't worry. 

3) We met a lady named Cathy and she told us we could call her "crazy" if we so desired. We desired to do so. Miss Crazy Cathy has had a rough month so we sang to her and cheered her up a bit. During our conversation she says "there's something in my pants besides me!!!!" Miss Crazy Cathy starts doing the ants-in-your-pants-dance!!! Man, I stinking love the south. 

4) We went bowling today and got in trouble for being too loud................... apparently the senior bowlers didn't appreciate our enthusiasm for the art of bowling. However I did get 2 strikes #killinit 

5) On the topic of sporting, ya girl is killing the frisbee game!! We play ultimate frisbee (it's a real thing I promise) every Friday morning with our district and I rule the field. It's fine. 

6) CANNON CREEK IS THE GREATEST PLACE EVER!!!!!!! I love the missionaries I get to work with, I love the ward I'm serving in, I love my stinkin companion and I love my friend Jesus who is helping me every single day. I am so grateful that I get to serve here in sweaty, humid, stinky, swampy, buggy Florida (not sarcastic). It's a blessed land and I'm a blessed woman. 

Have a beautiful week and to all my Utahans, HAPPY PIONEER DAY!!!! 🎆🎇✨

The OG Crew

Our trio for am hour or so 💕

This is Poke and he turns 99 years old this week!!!!

Ma Girl cleaning the van while we were going to pick someone up #CleanlinessIsCloseToGodliness

The Fam (the winning team was mine.... Team Bloody Knuckles👊)

July 16, 2018 - The Week in Alligator Town

Y'all I am one B L E S S E D lady!!!! Sister Winona is a walking angel. We are having a total blast but also getting cr*p done. 

Cannon Creek is sooooo good and I love it!!! We have a goal to find one new deaf person that we can teach (Sister Winona is having me teach her the celestial language of American Sign Language). We decide to go to this area to do some finding and we saw a "Deaf Person in Area" sign. You bet your buckets we knocked that whole neighborhood. We saw SOOOO many miracles!! We found 2 new friends to teach and they are so sweet. But no deaf people yet. We are determined though so I'm not even worried. 

I seriously am loving that I get to serve with my bestie and help her finish these last 6 weeks of her mission strong. This is the greatest and I will give more updates next week!!! 

This is my friend 😍

July 09, 2018 - The Week of SO MUCH STUFF

Okay I'm going to try and summarize this cause I've got a lot of things to do today. 😇

Marina was BAPTIZED on Saturday!!! I am so stinking proud of that kiddo. It was a process but man was it worth it. When she was coming out of the font she said "I did it! I did it!!" She was so happy!!! I love that girl.

Transfer call has come and gone and my time here in good ol' Gainesville has run out. I have loved serving in this B L E S S E D land! This is such a good good area and the ward is so great. My companion. Oh my gosh, my companion y'all. She is the greatest human (even though she spent the last week throwing balls at me while I sleep... thanks for sending them dad 😒) and has become my bff. I love her dearly!!! I will now be heading to Cannon Creek to serve as a sister training leader (STL) with the legend........hopefullyyouarentlactoseintolorantcauseherecomesthe......dairy SISTER WINONA!!!!!!!!!!! Holy I am stoked to be that lady's companion. She is an angel and I love her so much. It's going to be soooo good!!! 

Okay so other than that , I think that's it. At least I can't think of anything else. I love being a missionary here in the FJM!!!! It is by far the best mission in the whole world. I looooove it and I LOVE serving my Heavenly Father everyday!!! It's the happiest job in the world.

My baby girl Rhianna came to visit me!!!! All the heart eyes.

Marina and her sisters and friends!!! (She's in the grey striped dress)

This was my purchase after I found out I'm going to be am STL 🙃

Bby K 💕😍😭💕😍😭

July 02, 2018 - The Week of A Year in FL?!?!?

Y'all. ONE. WHOLE YEAR. Time is flying. I'm talking breaking-the-sound-barrier kind of flying. I can hardly believe it! But I love this work with my entire soul and being!!!!!

It's been a hot minute (again) since I've written weekly but I promised my parents I would send one. You're welcome. 

This week has been a blast! We went on trade-off's with our STL's, S. Beecher and S. Prue! It was so fun but I am so grateful to be back in my area with my beautiful companion. She's kind of the greatest (even though I have to force her to hug me). 

This week we took our cute recent convert, Cherrie out to give a Bible to someone who had requested it! The lady who had requested it lived in a super dodgy neighborhood that we had been advised not to go in....oops. Gotta do the Lords work! When we got to the door there was this ghetto "keep out" sign on the door so naturally the two, sweet, small-town-missionaries-from-utah were not about to knock that door. Miss Cherrie with no fear told us to knock it anyway. Yes ma'am! The lady didn't actually live there but the other lady who did was so nice!! #blessed Miss Cherrie was a bomb missionary and just gave her the Bible and the Book of Mormon instead!! She's actually a missionary and we were her members present.... 

Florida is a blessed land folks and Gainesville is where it's all at!!!! We met this super nice lady this week who is the best neighbor ever. We were asking her about a former who lived next door to her and she literally knows everything. Which is huge cause in the south no one knows anyone.  In fact, she knows her neighbors so well that when her one neighbor didn't bring in their trash bins after trash was picked up, they called the police. Turns out he had had a stroke and no one knew! I strive to be like this woman. She's my new role model. 

God was so good this week even though it's aprox 728373 degrees outside. I would only ever get this sweaty and this many bugs bites for God and His work. That's how much I looooovvvveeeeee being a missionary!! I'll post some pics that prove it. 

Love y'all!!!

When you forget your tennies on trade-off's but you gotta go serve

My fav fam with my fav man

Emma made Bob PB Bars and the young women came with us to take them! He's a loved man let me tell ya

Miss Photogenic Jr takes after her mama 😍

HAILEY CAME BACK TO SEE ME 😭💕

#deetordie

June 18, 2018 - The Week I Actually Sent An Email

Y'all, it has been a hot minute since I've written one of these. Now you can add "Sister Allgaier finally emailed" to your blessings list tonight when you count them all .😇 So much has happened it's kind of ridiculous. I'll give you the low down: 

1) For the first time in my entire mission I am NOT IN A CAR SHARE!!!!!!! Backstory: Our beautiful YSA sisters got emergency-transferred to different areas because someone somewhere went home and they needed to shuffle everything around. That meant their car was being sent to someone. We had zero hopes that we were getting it but we did!! Ya girl only has to bike one day a week now #blessup I'm so sad that Sister Tidwell and Sister Newman left! They were our bff' s but they'll do so good in their new areas. 💕

2) We had zone conference up in Jacksonville on Wednesday! We had to wake up at an unearthly hour that I don't care to recall but it was so worth it. We were accidently way stinkin early (we beat the AP's) but we got some good studies while we waiting for the rest if the mission to catch up to us. 😁😁 It was so great! We learned a lot about the spirit and the importance of it in our missions. LOVED IT  

3) Bob quit smoking!! Do y'all know what that means?!?! Sister Allgaier quit eating chocolate. That's right folks. If Bob can quit smoking, I can quit chocolate. Easy pea(please pray for me)sy!!! He's doing so good though. I love that man. 

Okay well that's a wrap, I guess not as much happened this week as I thought. Oh well. Enjoy some pictures! Love y'all!! 

THIS WAS THE BLESSED DAY WE GOT OUR FULL CAR

She doesn't like taking pictures with me really....

She decided to show some affection and shoved her hand on my face. I love this weirdo

June 04, 2018 - The Week We WON

Settle in kids, this one's a long one. 

This is a story all about Bob

Bob was found by the YSA missionaries a few months ago. Since he is not in the YSA age range, they gave us a call and over to Bobs we went. We knocked on his door and he yells "come. in." We opened the door to find a man, with tattoos galore and wheelchair ridden. We learned that Bob had stage 4 MS at age 38 (that's REALLY young). Ever since then we have been teaching Bob. I am so so blessed to have been able to watch him change so completely. He is a different man now then when I first met him. He wants to be baptized, he believes what we teach him and he has been wanting to come to church. After so many prayers from him, us, the ward and so many others from home Bob was able to come to church yesterday!!!! It was a huge ordeal trying to find him a way to get there so I won't bore you by sharing all of it but I will tell you that I have never seen so many people go outside their comfort zone than I did yesterday. Grown men lifted Bob, fed him the bread and water during the sacrament, people who had never seen him before came and talked to him, children were in awe with his wheelchair. I am so proud of the Gainesville 3rd Ward!!! It was simply beautiful. 

Okay, enough with the sappy Sister A geez... I'll tell you some one-sentence funny stories so you don't talk asleep reading this. 

THE COMIC STRIPS: 

1) Sister K was the object of affection when she was asked "can I kiss you?"

2) We recieved a watermelon from a man named Steven.

3) Tug-o-war with a vine through the top of a door with a deaf man is a great way to spend some time on a Saturday. 

4) Teaching girls aged 6-12 The law of chastity is my new favorite pasttime. 

5) When someone asks a missionary to watch their missionary's coming home video, don't do it. It will make you sad inside.

6) The best voicemail we received this week was "It's ya boi, Elder S*****." Gotta keep those privacy rules.  

Honestly this week was so much better than last! I think God makes it that way on purpose. He gives you a lot of downs so when the ups come, you will appreciate them that much more. I'm reading in Alma right now in the Book of Mormon and it's all about wars. I actually LOVE it! I didn't think I could ever love these chapters but I do. Anyway, it talks about how Moroni and his army do not forget the Lord and His goodness and mercy. Those who do forget are always worse off. To never forget is hard but easier in the end. #RememberHim 

Sidenote: it's Mama A's bday this week!!! 🎉🎈🎁❤ That also means a year ago this week I was set apart to be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and man alive do I love that calling!!! I can't believe it's been a year!!! 

Love y'all!!

MY BEST FRIEND BOB

WE WERE MORE EXCITED THAT BOB WAS COMING THAN WE WERE THAT SANTA WAS COMIMG

Miss Photogenic and her fav book

We were looking to get 3rd-degree soaked, but we just got spit on 

My baby girl doing her thing

Even though I'm in the sun 24/7 I am still contacted by construction workers daily to help reflect items for them with my legs

May 28, 2018 - The Week of Procrastination

Well I wasn't going to write y'all a weekly but due to some unfortunate circumstances (we were in even numbers with the elders at the church (big no-no) so we have been banished to our car) I now have some time do either write an email or sit and watch the rain. Though I love the latter, the former might be a bit more productive. 

I have learned a lot this week. I'm not going to lie, this was a hard week. We had our ups for sure but our downs seemed to take the cake. I won't go into detail because I don't want to make this email sad but I did want to tell you want I learned from this week. 

I can do things on my own. In fact, I can do some pretty good and even great things on my own. Miracles, however, are only bestowed by God. Nothing I do will change that. Of course I will work hard and do everything I can do help those miracles happen and sometimes it feels like I've done pretty well with making them happen. But God is the one who is all-knowing. He is the one in charge. That sometimes stresses me out (thanks inner control freak) but there's a scripture I'm pretty sure I've shared already but it always calms me. My first AP shared this with me in my first transfer and I fell in love with it and memorized it as fast as I could. 

Doctrine and Covenants 123:17 

"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." 

I have a hard time with giving up control but the mission has forced me into submission to God's will. It doesn't sound like a positive thing but I've learned it really is! Because He is all-knowing, I need to rely on Him. We plan for hours on end for those we are teaching and I have no idea what they need. I don't know what will help them. I can make a logical guess but God knows EXACTLY what they need. If I rely on Him and in humility, ask Him for help, He will provide answers. I've been so humbled this week. And I'm so grateful for that. 

Have a beautiful rainy week y'all! 🌧☔

Casually cruising through the Redlight District (jokes, don't panic)

My Stra(favorite)nge Addiction 🎂

This was where our bikes got stolen. We thought we could go back and punch fear in the mouth

In our element with sweet Marina (no I'm not crying it was just very very cute lesson

May 21, 2018 - The Week of the Flood

Okay y'all, I did not send a weekly last week because I truly had no desire to. BUT I am repenting and sending one today. 

This week has been so stinkin rainy and we are L O V I N G it!!! The humidity is down and so is the temperature so we are more than okay with getting a little soaked. Totally worth it.

One of my favorite experiences this week was trying to communicate with our only Portuguese-speaking member about our Portuguese-speaking investigator. Eu não falo português. Never have I ever been more grateful for Google translate in my life. Where is Syd, Mads and all my other beautiful Portuguese-speaking friends when I need them? It was quite hilarious to watch us communicate with him, I must say. 

Let's talk about desperation. I thought I knew desperate. Turns out I only knew what desperation was when talking about finding a dress for prom a week before prom (one of our investigators just went to prom so it's on the brain). True desperation is when you have been working your bootay off for the whole week and you still haven't found a new investigator and it's Saturday. Sister K is literally a champ for putting up with all the things I put her through. We didn't have a meal appointment Saturday so I decided to make some lean butter sandwiches, grab the pretzels and nutella and work through dinner. My theory was this: if we work through dinner, God will see our desperation and dedication and will bless us. And bless us he did!! We found some AMAZING people to teach!! It was such a blessing. Nevermind we were so tired our eyes were rolling into our heads. Nevermind that night everyone and their dog decided to call and talk to us. It was a stinkin' good day. 

I want to brag about Sister K for a minute. She is literally the greatest human being. Remember when I tasted the devils sweat (super super awful hot sauce) with Sister G awhile ago?? Well I made Sister K do it yesterday. I for sure thought it would be funnier for me than it was. Turns out, when people cry, I feel super bad... I totally thought the mission had killed all emotions but apparently it hasn't!! #blessup

Okay my scripture for the week is from Miss Macayla Elwell (rip). 

Alma 28:8  

"And this is the account of Ammon and his brethren, their journeyings in the land of Nephi, their sufferings in the land, their sorrows, and their afflictions, and their incomprehensible joy, and the reception and safety of the brethren in the land of Jershon. And now may the Lord, the Redeemer of all men, bless their souls forever" 

I LOVE this so much. They had hard times, they suffered and they still found joy!! Man, I have hard times, I suffer, I have literally never been more sweaty and tired but I STILL FIND JOY!!! It's the weirdest, most wonderful thing in the whole world. Joy is always there. Sometimes, you just have to look really hard. 😊

Ah, I just love y'all. Thank you so much for all your support, prayers and for pretending to read these emails (I know y'all just look for the pictures, it's fine. I do it too). Have a STEALLAR week!!! ❤

The cat was ferocious

The rains came down and the floods came up 🎶

Dr. K was the real MVP. She kept fixing my bandaid from when I WRECKED my ankle on a door.

Yup. That's my hand. Reaching for a pretzel. To dip into the nutella. #goals

I will NEVER get over these sunsets 💕

May 07, 2018 - The Week of the Car

I'm just slightly sad that we are on bikes this week because it's a piping 90 degrees this week.... BUT the work must go on. Since the sun is out and blaring, so should we (I'm not even totally certain that makes sense...)!! ☀️

So let's talk about this past week instead of dwelling on the sweatiness that is to come. 

We had zone conference this week!!! It was SO GOOD. I was missing all my friends (since they decided to hop on over to the other side of the mission) but we promptly made some new ones. I am definitly an oldie of a missionary now because I know approx 4 missionaries. Give or take. We talked a lot about member missionary work! It's so so important in doing missionary work so I'm grateful for that reminder. 

I have more funny stories this week but for the sake of your time and your interest I will tell you two. 

1) We had just found a new investigator and were driving away. Cutie Sister K was navigating me and got a little turned around and we ended up on the freeway going the opposite way we wanted to go. Which, would have been fine except there was N O E X I T S. We were heading out of town so fast. We told our zone leader we were accidently leaving our area and we were so sorry about that. Poor Sister K felt so so bad but it was more funny than anything. She just kept looking at the map and saying "AH WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF OUR AREA!!" Eventually we found an exit and booked it back. Thankfully we weren't in St. Aug cause we for sure would have left the mission. Then, the whole way back she just kept saying "I'm so upset!" It was kinda funny. 😂 Ah... good times. 

2) I almost killed my daughter. True story. We were out seeing a part-member family that lives out in the boonies. I had finished reversing the car to leave and Sister K had just gotten in the car when a dragonfly made himself at home on the dashboard. I do not like bugs. Let me repeat: I DO NOT LIKE BUGS. I panicked and jumped ship, leaving Sister K in the car with the gigantic dragonfly. During my screaming and fleeing I forgot to put the car into park. Not only did I trap her in the car but the car was now moving and I was not in the drivers seat. Oops. She freaks out and flings the car into park all while yelling at me. Turns out one of us can yell and shift gears and it's not me. But all is well and we got the bug out. She now knows that I'm not playing when I say that I do not like bugs. 

For my next trick, I'm going to try to bring the spirit back into this email with some thoughts I had this week. 

I was studying yesterday morning and preparing for church when I came across a verse in Alma. Alma was the high priest at the time as well as the chief judge over the people. He decided to give his position as chief judge over to Nephihah (weird name I know, stick with me) so he could focus entirely on preaching to the people as the high priest. In Alma 4:19 he says "seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them." I have gained a testimony of so many things on my mission so far but the power comes in bearing PURE TESTIMONY. I love having the opprotunity to bear my simple testimony to everyone I meet. Think about your pure testimony and how much it means to you. I promise if you bear it, it will grow. We just had testimony meeting but do it next month! It will benefit you and everyone else. 

I love, love L❤VE being a missionary. The pure joy and love of Christ is so real to me. I hope y'all have a STELLAR week and make sure you express your love to your mama on Sunday. I know I will (!!!!!!!!!). Love y'all!! 

We weekly planned at the pool...fun, but will probably never happen again due to the amount of bare skin.

Fantasia is now learning from the YSA... I would be sad but she is way too stoked for me to be sad.

I'm the embarrassing mom and I LOVE IT.

April 30, 2018 - The Week of LoveBugs, Sunshine, and Police

Y'all I hope you're sitting down for this one....this could potentially be a llooooooonnnngggg email but I'll try to keep it on the shorter side as to not make y'all fall asleep wherever you happen to be reading this. That would be embarrassing for you. 🙃 We will start our story on Tuesday. 

Tuesday: We had our first district meeting! We discussed what we wanted to improve on and we all decided that we wanted to have more people in church this coming Sunday. We then decided that in order for that to happen, we needed to invite more people to come to church. Our oh-so-inspired district leader had each companionship choose an amount of people they could invite each day. We accidentally chose the V E R Y high number of inviting 10 different people every day of the week to do our part to help increase the number of people in church. Insta-regret right there cause that is so stinkin many!!! But Sister K is a trooper and we went to work. Let's now jump to Thursday. 

Thursday: We did weekly planning and ate obscene amounts of sugar and then we were supposed to do some service. I didn't feel particularly good about doing service because it wasn't fulfilling our purpose so I proposed the idea of ditching and biking to a neighborhood to get our 10 invites. Cutie K was all in. We strapped on our helmets, jumped on Sebasian and NoName (she hadn't named the bike yet) and headed out. This was Sister K's first time riding her bike on her mission!! We arrived at the neighborhood we had planned, locked up our bikes and started knocking. We met some super nice people and invited EVERYBODY to come to church. We even found someone knew to teach!! We were killing it. As we walked away from a door Sister K says "um, is that the pole our bikes were locked to?" My response was something along the lines of "hahaha. No. No? Oh no...." We were sped-walked to that pole to find that some lovely bystander snipped our bike lock and took both bikes and Sister K's helmet (apparently something was wrong with my helmet because they left it...). We sat there for a minute, made some phone calls and eventually ended up on the phone with the police. There wasn't really anything they could do so we just went to our dinner appointment. And no, we didnt invite our 10 that day. 

Friday: WE INVITED 11!!!! We were very excited about that. 

Saturday: We were walking to that same neighborhood where our bikes were kidnapped and I saw something on the side of the road. Those punks had ditched my bike basket on the side of the road!!! You betcha I picked it up and carried it with me. Jokes on them though cause that basket made the whole bike! 

Sunday: We had 4 come to church of the 29 people we invited!!! What a blessing. 

Y'all, this week we were given so so SO many opportunities to complain and to criticize but honestly, why would we? It is much easier (and much more fun) to find the joy in the everyday. I promise there is so much good out there. Even when your bikes get stolen, I promise there's joy there too (and I can say that from personal experience now). Which leads me into my scripture for the week...

2 Nephi 5:27
"And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness." 
I have gained such a testimony of hope and happiness in all things. President Gordon B. Hinkley said "those who go forward with a happy spirit will find that things always work out." I PROMISE THAT IS SO TRUE. It may not work out like we think it should but it will work out. 

I love y'all and I hope y'all have a STELLAR week. 

Who knew this would be the last time I would ride Sebastian.... RIP ⚰

MY BEAUTIFUL trooper of daughter

Our bff came to church on Sunday 🎉💕