Then I had this really strong impression that THAT is why I'm serving a mission: to teach people about the Atonement. It saved my life. It can save theirs.

(Mom's Note:  Transfers were today.  I bombarded her with questions and so her comments are a bit disjointed -- even more so than usual!  This it her blog post from several short emails back and forth.  Sorry, no pics this week.  She packed her camera cord during the transfer and couldn't upload them.)

I'm doing great!  My new companion is Sister Gibby and she loves to talk about everything and i love her a lot already.  Seriously, she's great.  I'll be serving over two wards and I don't know the names of them . . . My bad . . . but it'll be great.  She has been out one transfer less than me and I feel like we just click.  I'm really excited about it.

OH!  Richard got baptized Friday.  It was beautiful!!!  After I ate 18-20 ounces of steak for dinner (maybe that's why her thoughts are all over the place?  Hardened arteries?)  I have a problem . . . hahaha . . . but anyways, I got to see all of my "favorite-est" people yesterday and had to say bye to them.  I'm going to really miss that ward.

I can't even think right now enough to formulate any sentence right.  I didn't get much sleep last night.  I can't remember my week, only a few parts so this is going to be a super short email so I apologize. We had a lesson with Mary Anne on Friday and she is golden.  She's seriously been so prepared for the gospel and I'm so excited for her to receive it.  We got dropped by **********.  His wife told him he can't take the lessons any more :(  Sad cause he was way cool.  I'm really tired.  We went to the Bott's Sunday night for when we were getting our transfer calls and i was really worried because Elder Hansen (AP) told me that I wasn't getting transferred.  I was so confused because everything President had indicated to me was that I should expect a change.  Ugh.  Okay, so we get the call and I was seriously so excited.  Sister Gibby is the senior comp -- I think cause she's been in the area for her whole mission (2 whole transfers!) and so she knows it.  While we were talking about ourselves and our lives she told me that she has the impression that I was sent to this area for specific people.  I'm really excited!  I didn't get to draw last week cause we were busy doing stuff but I'll for sure get Sister Gibby to chalk with me because she loves art too!  We were meant to be companions.  I'm sure.

p.s. an elder in my last zone fell mildly in love with me and asked me to go on dates with him in 14 months.  I mildly told him off.  Yikes.

Yep!  Hahaha. I literally can't think, mom.  I'm sorry.  Last week was uneventful.  Every day is meshing together and I don't remember what happened last week.  I'll write about it in a letter and send it home when I have more sleep.

 OH!  Something cool did happen:

I was reading in the Infinite Atonement book y'all sent me and it occurred to me that it really is okay that I don't know everything about the Gospel because I really have a testimony of the Atonement, and if you only know one principle of the gospel, it should be the Atonement.  Then, at Zone Meeting I sent my notebook around to the Zone to have them write notes (We do that.  It's fun) and one Elder (my zone leader who has given me blessings before) wrote about how I will be able to pull through the hard times and influence people because of my testimony of the Atonement.  It was awesome to read that.  Then I had this really strong impression that THAT is why I'm serving a mission:  to teach people about the Atonement.  It saved my life.  It can save theirs.

Love all y'all!  Have a great week!

Richard's Baptism!

Me and Sister Garner Before the Transfer!

"WHO GAVE US A SNAKE?"

THIS WEEK HAS BEEN SO INCREDIBLE.  Mostly Saturday.  But I'll start with Monday.  I already told you about the six mile hike.

Tuesday we went and contacted a referral.  Her name is Kathy.  She told us to come back Thursday.  I also went in and talked to President again, at his request this time! It was nice to only be in there for five minutes.  I'm doing much better.

Wednesday we had our district meeting and I just love my district and zone so much.  I'm gonna miss all of them so much. (I'm likely going to be transferred next Tuesday).  We went and visited a ton of members, too. That's really all we've been doing lately. Just trying to get more referrals.

Thursday we got to go visit Kathy.  We fed her 4 week old kittens! I died.  They are so precious!  We had to bottle feed them and it was so much fun.  We taught her about the Restoration and I'm pretty sure she is the most golden person I have ever met in my life.  She was asking all sorts of questions about what happens to the people who didn't get a chance to hear about Christ because she doesn't think they should be damned (Mom's note:  one of my most favorite doctrinal beliefs).  She also asked to know what our standards are so she can start to live by them.

Friday nothing special happened.  Got everything set for Richard's baptism (this Friday, 25th).  Oh.  I lied. We got home and there was a box where we park our car, and I was on the phone with the district leaders and so I just got out and moved it and put in on the table in the house and went upstairs, and Sister Garner RUNS up the stairs and says, "WHO GAVE US A SNAKE?!" . . . (the members who we live with) called the cops.  Turns out it was Sister Bishop.  Pretty funny, actually.  So, i took a picture of it.  It was dead.

Sister Bishop's Contribution to Our Excitement

SATURDAY! We went and taught Orlando (an investigator Sister Eyre and I found on exchanges) and realized that he is SO ready to hear the gospel.  He asked US when church is and where and said he would try to make it and also make it to our Halloween party.  We then went to this side-of-the-road shop that I had seen a few times and wanted to stop by, and we talked to the owner.  She makes necklaces and bracelets.  She told us that if we come up with a good story to tell, she will help us make a bracelet out of it.  SO I KNOW HOW WERE GOING TO GET THE FIRST LESSON IN!  I'm super excited.  I also bought the most beautiful necklace I have ever seen (not that you really care about my jewelry) but it is so pretty.  She also gave me two pairs of free earrings because she loves me.  Her name is ****** Sparkle. HER LAST NAME REALLY IS SPARKLE!!  Insane.  

Most Beautiful Necklace, Ever

We then went and visited some members and had dinner and passed off Garrett to the YSA ward.  So, so sad.  I loved talking to him.  After dinner we stopped by to contact another referral.  We rang the doorbell twice.  She didn't answer the first time but then she came to the door and asked us how long our message would take.  We told her five minutes.  So she let us in.  During the explanation about the Book of Mormon she told us that her mother passed away a few months ago and that she wasn't over it but that she knew that if she came closer to God she would be able to still feel her mom's presence because she knows that she is with Him.  Long story short, she invited us back for next Saturday.  She also explained to us that:  1. she is never home at that time;  2. never leaves her gate unlocked  and, 3. never answers the door after dark but that she felt like she should that day.  It was truly a miracle.  We then got a text from the elders in our ward asking us to come to their pants burning party. (they burn ties at 6 months, a shirt at 12, pants at 18, and a suit at 24) so we doused (sp?) their pants in gasoline and set them on fire.  it was good fun.

Last night sister Garner and I had an hour and a half long comp inventory. It was really really helpful. 

Love all y'all!  Have a great week!!!

. . . I could use some bronzer, to be honest

I went on a six mile hike this morning and I am now suffering the consequences.  My hips have not forgiven me yet  BUT that's okay.  It was a lot of fun, and I got some pretty good pictures.  I've gotten to be super good friends with the elders in my zone.  I didn't get homesick after talking to y'all.  I still don't know why, but I don't get homesick.  It's like at college.  I just miss talking to y'all every day is more accurate.  Unless I'm sick, then I'm a total baby.  I got food poisoning Friday.  That was rough.  But some Elders brought me crackers and sprite, so I still get taken care of pretty well.  They're so sweet.  Also, I got to see my mom again! (that's Sister Eyre). We went on exchanges Saturday and GUESS WHAT?!?!?!

(pause for dramatic effect)

We found a new investigator.  His name is *******.  Mom was a Catholic.  Dad was Jehovah's Witness.  He's a Baptist.  Luckily, Sister Garner KNOWS the Bible well.  It's quite a relief.

But, anyway, I super miss Sister Eyre.  She really is the best!  Because of her, I know what kind of missionary I want to be.  Also, I'll probably be getting transferred.  If I do, I'll super miss the ward.  I actually really like them.  I just don't like the "finding" in this area.  It is super hard.  I feel bad though, cause every member is so sweet and amazing and I just struggle here.  Meh.

We have a baptism coming up!  "R" is getting baptized on the 25th.  I'm seriously so excited for him. He's absolutely hilarious and awesome. We have so much fun with him and his wife!  Sometimes they just look at us all confused. It's fun.

We visited a less active member named *******.  We talked to her about hope for a good two hours or so, and every day since, she has thanked us for bringing God's light back into her life.  She is seriously such a sweet lady.  She also told me that she can see my love for God in my face, and that's something I've never been told before so I almost cried.  I printed off Jeffrey R Hollands talk from Saturday and we're going to bring it to her this week.  (Mom's note:  If you haven't read the talk yet, the article is attached here:  http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/like-a-broken-vessel?lang=eng -- most incredible talk I've heard in a long, long time!)

I love y'all!!

Sister Chatterton

I could use some bronzer, to be honest.

P.S ... Do you just celebrate Columbus day because its where Ohio State is located? or is it cause you're a history nerd?  (um, yes)

Pictures from the Hike

Me and Sister Garner Steady "Chillen"

Also, I look jacked in this picture. My arms are NOT that big.

I just look so good when i wake up at 4:45!

What cacti ACTUALLY look like... I seriously think they are so gross

The Scariest House

Such a hipster

. . . "you KNOW i don't like your wife's cooking!" (Just read it!)

We've been visiting members this week, trying to get referrals from them because we have nobody in our teaching pool.  It's kind of a bummer, and it's really stressful but I know we're doing everything we can be doing to find people to teach so the Lord WILL provide us with some investigators.  We've met a lot of really cool people in our ward though.  I'm really starting to like them all.

You're now Facebook friends (Mom) with some of my favorite people!  The ********** feed me ice cream and have a puppy and they're both super brilliant so i can actually be myself and say big words without it confusing them, which is awesome.  The ********** are a family that we can go to literally any time and they will have food for us.  It appears as though I just love people who give me food -- this is the truth.  They all have the kind of sense of humor that you do so I just love hanging out with them. Funny story about them: when I was first in the area we ate dinner at their house.  They offered me seconds but i was full so I declined.  Brother ********** looked at me and said, "what? you don't like my wife's cooking?!"  It was one of those things where I really didn't know how to respond because that was just the weirdest question and I was so uncomfortable.  His wife is an excellent cook!  Anyways . . . we joked about it and laughed it off.  So, the first week Sister Garner gets here, our dinner cancelled on us, and we saw Brother ********** in the park.  He asked if we had dinner plans and I said, "no."  He asked, "well, do you want to come to our house for dinner?"  I said (straight faced), "you KNOW i don't like your wife's cooking!". . . Sister Garner did NOT know what to do or say.  It was priceless!!

As for my thoughts on conference: this was the first year I have stayed awake for all 10 hours I was supposed to watch.  It's amazing how much more you get out of it when you are alert!!  I also decided to take notes which was an interesting experience because my handwriting has gotten so much worse.  I absolutely loved Elder Holland's talk about being kind to those with mental health issues.  They really are no different than illnesses of other sorts and because of that we shouldn't treat people like they CHOSE to have those types of trials.  President Uchtdorf (as usual) was another one of my favorites, especially his Saturday talk.  I would like to recommend that everyone reads/listens to it and applies it to their own lives.  We all can become more converted than we currently are, and we could all use a reminder of how much of a blessing this gospel really is!!!

Love all Y'all and hope Y'all have a great week!

Sister Chatterton  & Burger Puppy